Histoplasmosis - chronic pulmonary

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Coccidioidomycosis - chest x-ray

Fungus

Chronic cavitary histoplasmosis

• Fever
• Chills
• Unintentional weight loss
• Cough that brings up mucus or pus
• Shortness of breath
• Joint stiffness
• Skin involvement (erythema nodosum)

Tests that may be used in the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis include:

• Chest x-ray
• Chest CT scan
• Sputum culture and stain
• Biopsy of infected tissue such as open lung biopsy  or bone marrow biopsy
• Bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy or bronchoalveolar lavage
• Histoplasma complement fixation titer
• Histoplasma urinary antigen test
• Immunodiffusion test for precipitating antibodies to antigens of histoplasma
• CBC

Review Date: 02/27/2006
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, CriticalCare & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Reviewprovided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.