What is true about Histoplasmosis
Chronic (late stages) - Cavitary histoplasmosis so indistinguishable from T.B 1. Histoplasmosis or Darling's disease is caused by dimorphic fungus - Histoplasma capsulatum. 2. Transmission: By inhalation of spores (i.e. microconidia) circulating in the air being contaminated with soil. 3. Clinical Manifestations: - Pulmonary histoplasmosis: It is the most common form. Acute form stas as mild flu like illness Chronic - Cavitary histoplasmosis Mucocutaneous oral lesion (paicularly seen in Indian patients) Disseminated histoplasmosis develops if CMI is very low (HIV). 4. Histoplasma is a dimorphic fungus, hence Culture is the gold standard method of diagnosis
In late stage it is indistinguishable from TB
Culture is not diagnostic
Hyphal forms are infectious form
Person to person spread occurs by droplet infection
Mycology