DEAR DRS. DONOHUE AND ROACH: Will you discuss the disease
histoplasmosis? My daughter was told she may have it. She is
undergoing tests now. I understand that it causes damage to the
lungs and other parts of the body. She was told it comes from
bird droppings, including those of chickens. Please inform us of
the treatment. — M.A. ANSWER: Histoplasma is a fungus that
thrives in the river valleys of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.
It thrives there because the soil is enriched with bird and bat
droppings. Chicken droppings also favor its growth.
Histoplasmosis (his-TOE-plaz-MOE-siss) is the illness generated
by the fungus. People catch this fungal disease by breathing air
that contains spores of the fungus. Spores are the early stages
of the fungus. Air spread occurs when the soil is disturbed by
shoveling or by construction or for any other reason that people
dig. Chicken-coop cleaning is another source of infection
spread, as is exploring caves. For most, breathing the spores
causes no trouble. For some, it c