What are the signs and symptoms of histoplasmosis?
Most infected persons have no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they vary widely, depending on the form of the disease. The lung infection can be short-term (acute) and relatively mild, or it can be long-term (chronic) and serious. Symptoms of the acute lung infection are tiredness, fever, chills, chest pains, and a dry cough. The chronic lung infection is like tuberculosis and occurs mostly in persons who already have lung disease. It can progress over months or years and can scar the lungs. Disseminated histoplasmosis results in a variety of serious symptoms and can involve all body organs. The liver and spleen usually become enlarged, and sores in the mouth or gastrointestinal tract can develop. Disseminated histoplasmosis can be fatal. How soon after exposure do symptoms appear? Symptoms of acute disease usually appear in 5 to 18 days (usually 10 days) after exposure. How is histoplasmosis diagnosed? Diagnosis can be made by laboratory culture or a blood test. A skin test is available
