This "acute" infection does not last, but can leave a person with small scars (granulomas). These scars can be difficult to distinguish from tumors in the lung. However, the infection can cause severe illness right away, or redevelop years after the first exposure, if a person's immune system is weakened by:
Cancer Chemotherapy Immune-suppressing drugs HIV infection
Risk factors for chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis include:
Living in or traveling to central or eastern United States Exposure to soil or particles contaminated with droppings of chickens, bats, or blackbirds Pre-existing COPD Weakened immune system, such as in people who have AIDS
Who is at highest risk for Histoplasmosis ?
This "acute" infection does not last, but can leave a person with small scars (granulomas). These scars can be difficult to distinguish from tumors in the lung. However, the infection can cause severe illness right away, or redevelop years after the first exposure, if a person's immune system is weakened by:
Cancer Chemotherapy Immune-suppressing drugs HIV infection
Risk factors for chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis include:
Living in or traveling to central or eastern United States Exposure to soil or particles contaminated with droppings of chickens, bats, or blackbirds Pre-existing COPD Weakened immune system, such as in people who have AIDS