Who is most likely to get histoplasmosis?
The histoplasma capsulatum fungus is the most common type of fungus in the United States. However, most people who are infected with histoplasmosis have few or no symptoms. Histoplasmosis occurs in places that have moderate temperatures and moisture. It is very common in the Ohio, Missouri and Mississippi river valleys due to the damp, rich soil found in those areas. Farmers, landscapers, construction workers, archaeologists and geologists are at an increased rick for histoplasmosis. Severe infections may develop in children under age 2 and in adults older than 55. People who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer, are taking long-term corticosteroids (such as prednisone) or are taking anti-rejection medicines after an organ transplant are at an increased risk for developing severe cases of histoplasmosis. A chronic infection can occur in patients with lung diseases like emphysema (say: em-fa-see-ma).
