Histoplasmosis Histoplasma capsulatum

• Facts:
  Common, usually asymptomatic infection in endemic areas like Mississippi and Ohio River valleys and Central America
  
  Found in soil with a high concentration of bird or bat guano droppings
• History / PE:
  Asymptomatic pulmonary nodule
  Self limiting fever, chills
  Non-productive cough
  Palatal ulcers
• Diagnosis:
  Diffuse nodular densities, focal infiltrate, or hilar adenopathy
  Urine and serum polysaccharide antigen (most sensitive test)
  Yeast form seen with silver stain
• Treatment:
  Depends on severity of disease
• Associated With:
  AIDS
  Immunocompromised host
  Endemic areas
• Differential Diagnosis:
  Blastomycosis (skin lesions, lytic bone lesions)
  Tuberculosis
• Risk Factors:
  Spelunking