What Is Histoplasmosis?
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Fungi are a life form that is neither animals nor plants. There is a huge variety of them, many of which will even end up on your dinner table. Some varieties are extremely small – so small that they could cause an infection in your body if you were unfortunate enough.
Fungi reproduce by releasing tiny spores into the atmosphere, and these spores will then drift away before settling and growing elsewhere. These spores are so small that they can be inhaled and they can settle in our lungs. This can result in a fungal lung infection, an example of which is histoplasmosis
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1. Histoplasma Capsulatum
Histoplasma capsulatum is the fungus responsible for histoplasmosis, which is an infection of the lungs. The fungus is often found in bat and bird droppings, and its spores are sometimes inhaled accidently. Then, they can make their way into our lungs where they can take hold and cause the infection.
The fungus exists in many parts of the world, including the United States, and it is often inhaled when soil or buildings have been disturbed. It is not usually a dangerous condition but it can be dangerous to people that are vulnerable. Treatment is available, but the condition can be fatal without treatment.
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