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Endemic fungal infections (histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis)

Mycoses endemicae (histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis) · Endemické plísňové infekce (histoplazmóza, kokcidioidomykóza)

What it is

Fungi living in soil in certain regions — Histoplasma near bird and bat droppings (Americas, Africa, Asia), Coccidioides in dry south-west US and Latin America (valley fever), Blastomyces, Talaromyces — breathed in as spores; mostly a flu-like illness, but they spread in weak immunity.

Symptoms & signs

  • Often none
  • fever, cough, chest pain, tiredness weeks after exposure
  • joint pain, red lumps on shins
  • night sweats and weight loss when chronic
  • meningitis, skin sores or widespread illness in HIV or on immunosuppressants

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Severe breathlessness or coughing up blood
  • call 112 / 911 now Headache with stiff neck or confusion
  • see a doctor soon Cough and fever lasting over 3 weeks after travel
  • see a doctor soon Skin sores, bone pain or weight loss after a lung infection

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Antigen and antibody tests, culture
  • mild illness often heals alone
  • Itraconazole or fluconazole for moderate disease trials support
  • Amphotericin B for severe or spread disease — kidney toxicity trials support
  • lifelong suppression for coccidioidal meningitis

Natural & lifestyle

  • Masks and wet digging in caves, chicken coops and dusty construction in endemic areas
  • HIV testing and treatment

Emerging & experimental

  • Vaccine for valley fever (dogs first)
  • new antifungals (olorofim, fosmanogepix)

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Colloidal silver — no benefit; turns skin blue-grey not confirmed in trials
  • Oregano oil — kills fungi in dishes, untested in people anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes