ScienceDaily claims that Histoplasma, a type of soil fungus, can cause several serious lung diseases. Unfortunately, this is true for the District of Columbia, 48 states, and other areas in the US that were thought to be immune to this deadly fungus.
According to the CDC, Histoplasma is present in the soil across the central and eastern US states. Gizmodo indicates that the findings are based on out-of-date studies from the 1950s-1960s. However, Gizmodo holds that the fungus may be found across the nation. Histoplasmosis is a disease that someone gets when they inhale Histoplasma fungi spores.
In a press release, associate professor Andrej Spec said he gets frequent calls from medical professionals in Boston. The calls typically involve situations the doctor finds challenging. Spec says that although the physicians indicate that Histoplasma is not in the region, the symptoms are consistent with Histoplasma. He said that he informed them they keep calling him about the cases and that Histoplasma is present in the region.
Gizmodo also mentions Spec’s claim that fungus illnesses are more common than people realize. Spec also discusses how the research community hasn’t put much effort into researching and creating remedies for fungal infections. Although the pace is gradual, in his opinion, the trend is shifting.
As fungi thrive in warm climates, changing climate could factor in the rise of fungal infection. In people in good health, Histoplasma infections can be treated successfully. However, people with compromised immunity may go through serious conditions like fever, bodily aches, coughing, and exhaustion.
Normally symptoms will start to show in three to 17 days after exposure to the fungus. However, the symptoms typically last a month before going away. The individual may develop a severe illness and require months to recover if the infection spreads to the lungs. Histoplasma is among the fungi that cause ling-infections in the US.