Blastomycosis is a rare infection that may develop when people breathe in (inhale) a fungus called Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is found in wood and soil.
Alternative NamesNorth American blastomycosis; Gilchrist's disease
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsBlastomycosis occurs in people living in the south-central and midwestern United States and Canada. The infection is seen in 1-2 out of every 100,000 people in areas where the fungus most often occurs. It is even less common outside those areas.
Being around infected soil is the key risk factor.
The disease usually affects people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV or who have had an organ transplant. Men are more likely to be affected than women.
SymptomsLung infection may produce no symptoms, but when the infection spreads, skin or bone sores (lesions) may appear. The bladder, kidney, prostate, and testes may be affected.
Other symptoms may include:
Medicines may not be needed for a blastomycosis infection that stays in the lungs, unless it becomes severe. When the disease is severe, or when it spreads outside of the lungs, the following medicines (anti-fungals) may be prescribed:
Amphotericin B may be used for severe infections.
Follow-up regularly with your doctor to make sure the infection doesn't return.
Expectations (prognosis)Patients with minor skin sores (lesions) and relatively mild lung infections usually recover completely. If the infection is not treated, it can become severe enough to cause death.
ComplicationsCall your health care provider if you have symptoms of blastomycosis.
PreventionAvoiding travel to areas where the infection is known to occur may help prevent exposure to the fungus, but this may not always be possible.
ReferencesChapman SW. Plastomyces dermatitidis. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005: chap 263.
Blastomycosis is a rare infection that may develop when people breathe in (inhale) a fungus called Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is found in wood and soil.
See also: Skin lesion of blastomycosis
Alternative NamesNorth American blastomycosis; Gilchrist's disease
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsYou can get blastomyocosis by inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis particles, a fungus that is found in moist soil, particularly where there is rotting vegetation. The fungus enters the body through the lungs, infecting them. The fungus then spreads (disseminates) to other areas of the body. The infection may affect the skin, bones and joints, and other areas.
Blastomycosis is rare. It is most common in the central and southeastern United States, and in Canada, India, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Africa.
Being around infected soil is the key risk factor. The disease usually affects people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV or who have had an organ transplant. Men are more likely to be affected than women.
SymptomsLung infection may not cause any symptoms. Symptoms may be seen if the infection spreads. Symptoms may include:
Medicines may not be needed for a blastomycosis infection that stays in the lungs, unless it becomes severe. When the disease is severe, or when it spreads outside of the lungs, the following medicines (anti-fungals) may be prescribed:
Amphotericin B may be used for severe infections.
Follow-up regularly with your doctor to make sure the infection doesn't return.
Expectations (prognosis)Patients with minor skin sores (lesions) and relatively mild lung infections usually recover completely. If the infection is not treated, it can become severe enough to cause death.
ComplicationsCall your health care provider if you have symptoms of blastomycosis.
PreventionAvoiding travel to areas where the infection is known to occur may help prevent exposure to the fungus, but this may not always be possible.
ReferencesKauffman CA. Blastomycosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 355.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 09/15/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Type your answer here... Pseudoepithelimatous hyperplasia histologically mimics squamous cell carcinoma but its not in case of epithelial hyperplasia.Eg of former includes histoplasmosis,blastomycosis,Tb,Syphilis etc..
These Are All The Diseases Caused By Funqi: Aspergillosis Blastomycosis Candidiasis Coccidioidomycosis Histoplasmosis Paracoccidiomycosis Sporotrichosis Zygomycosis
I. INDICATIONSRoutine blood cultures should be performed on any patient in whom there is a suspicion of bacteremia or candidemia.Isolator blood cultures should be performed on any patient suspected of having one of the following:1. Subacute or chronic endocarditis with multiple negative BACTEC system cultures. It is appropriate to use the BACTEC system for the initial workup of endocarditis of any suspected etiology. Isolators should be used after multiple BACTEC cultures are obtained and fail to reveal an etiologic agent (including HACEK).2. Suspected deep fungal infection, such as histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis. Ordinarily, cultures of other sites, such as tissue biopsy, and in some cases serological tests, are more helpful than blood culture.3. Suspected mycobacteremia, particularly in HIV patients with CD4 counts
Blastomycosis is a scientific medical term.
A blastomycosis is a fungal infection caused by the organisms Blastomyces dermatitidis, endemic to parts of North America.
A blastomycosis is a fungal infection caused by the organisms Blastomyces dermatitidis, endemic to parts of North America.
South American blastomycosis is known medically as paracoccidioidal granuloma, or paracoccidioidomycosis
South American blastomycosis occurs primarily in Brazil, although cases crop up in.other parts of South America. The disease is far more serious than.(North American blastomycosis), which is endemic to the eastern United States, southern Canada.
The disease is chronic and often fatal. Because blastomycosis may be recurrent, patients should continue follow-up care for several years.
There is no way to prevent the disease.
South American blastomycosis is caused by the yeast-like fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis that is acquired by breathing in the spores of the fungus, which is commonly found in old wood and soil.
South American blastomycosis is a potentially fatal, chronic fungus infection that occurs more often in men. The infection may affect different parts of the body, including the lungs or the skin, and may cause ulcers of the mouth, voicebox, and nose.
South American blastomycosis occurs primarily in Brazil, although cases crop up in Mexico, Central America, or other parts of South America. It affects men between ages 20 and 50 about 10 times more often than women.
M. L. Littman has written: 'Cryptococcosis, torulosis or European blastomycosis' -- subject(s): Cryptococcosis
Some diseases that start with the letter B are: Blastomycosis beriberi Bursitis boils brucellosis