Question

Describe how a person contracts histoplasmosis and its two disease manifestations.

Answer 1

A person can contract Histoplasmosis by inhaling airborne spores of Histoplasma capsulatum which are found in bird and bat droppings. Soil contaminated with the droppings of birds and bats can also transmit Histoplasmosis, therefore farmers and landscapers have a high risk of contracting the disease.

Two disease manifestations of Histoplasmosis are:

Acute respiratory distress syndrome: Histoplasmosis causes damage to the lungs such that the air sacs begin filling with fluid. This causes depletion of oxygen level in the blood due to inefficient gaseous exchange.

Heart problems: Histoplamosis leads to pericarditis, which is the inflammation of the pericardium. It reduces the hearts efficiency to pump blood.