Fungal Pneumonia Causes

Three types of fungi commonly cause pneumonia are Histoplasma capsulatum, (causes histoplasmosis), Coccidioides immitis, (causes coccidioidomycosis), and Blastomyces dermatitidis, (causes blastomycosis). Most infected people may show only minor symptoms and might not even know that they are infected. Some people may become gravely ill. Fungal infections occur primarily in people with an acute weakened immune system.

Histoplasmosis: Though histoplasmosis occurs worldwide, it is prevalent in river valleys of temperate and tropical climates. In the United States, the fungus is predominant Mississippi and Ohio river valleys and in the river valleys of the East. Studies have revealed that more than 80% of people living in the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys have been exposed to the fungus.

Once the fungus is inhaled, it may cause no symptoms in many people. Most of the people realize that a fungus has infected them only when they carry out a skin test or a chest x-ray that shows a nodule or enlarged lymph nodes. Calcium deposits may be present in these areas. The symptoms like cough, fever, muscle aches, and chest pain may develop. The infection can lead to acute pneumonia, or may cause chronic pneumonia with symptoms that persist for months. The infection rarely spreads to other areas of the body, especially the spleen, bone marrow, liver, and digestive tract. This disseminated form of the disease usually affects the people who have AIDS or other immune system disorders.

In the diagnosis, the fungus is identified in a sputum sample, by performing a blood test, that identifies certain antibodies, or by performing a blood or urine test, that detects the organism. Antifungal drugs are used in the treatment of the disease. They are itraconazole Some Trade Names SPORANOX or amphotericin B.

Coccidioidomycosis: Coccidioidomycosis occurs primarily in semiarid climates, especially the southwestern United States and certain parts of South America and Central America. It is often referred to as valley fever. After inhalation, the fungus may cause no symptoms. In some cases, it may cause either acute or chronic pneumonia. The infection may spread beyond the respiratory system and infect the skin, bones, joints, and tissues covering the brain (meninges). This complication mostly occurs in men, especially Filipinos and blacks. People with AIDS or other immune system disorders are susceptible to this fungal infection.

The diagnosis is carried out by identifying the fungus in a sputum sample or a sample taken from another infected area or by performing a blood test that identifies certain antibodies. Antifungal drug such as fluconazole or aramphotericin B is used in the treatment of the disease.

Blastomycosis: Blastomycosis is prevalent in the southeastern, south central, and midwestern United States and in areas around the Great Lakes. Once the fungus is inhaled, it causes infection primarily in the lungs with no symptoms. Some people have flu-like illness. Symptoms of a chronic lung infection may last for months. There are chances that the disease may spread to other parts of the body, especially the bones, skin, joints, and prostate gland.

Usually, the fungus is identified through proper diagnosis. Samples of the sputum are used to identify the fungus. There is no blood test for this fungus. It is usually treated with antifungal drug, such as itraconazole or amphotericin B, however, many people do not require treatment.

Other Fungal Infections: Includes Infections like cryptococcosis, (caused by Cryptococcus neoformans); aspergillosis, (caused by Aspergillus); and mucormycosis, (caused by fungi of the order Mucorales). The most common fungal infection is Cryptococcosis that may occur in a healthy person, but is usually severe in people with underlying immune system disorders, such as AIDS. Cryptococcosis may spread to the meninges, where it results in a disease called cryptococcal meningitis. Another common and important diseases id Aspergillosis, which causes pulmonary infections in people who have acute leukemia or AIDS, have undergone organ transplantation, or are receiving long-term treatment with corticosteroids. Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection and occurs mostly in people with severe diabetes or leukemia. These three infections can be treated with antifungal drugs, such as itraconazole, fluconazole, and amphotericin B. However, people who are diagnosed with AIDS or other immune system disorders may develop resistance to the medications and may not recover from these infections.