Histoplasmosis
- cause
- a fungus infection that affects the lungs and may occasionally invade other parts of the body
- spread
- inhaling the spore stage of the fungus
- incubation
- 5–18 days (usually about 10 days) after exposure
- symptoms
- mild to severe, ranging from flu–like illness to serious lung infection
- communicability
- usually 2 weeks or less, but rarely over 6 months
- prevention
- when working in potentially contaminated enclosures, spray soil with water and wear dust mask; decontaminate infected areas
- treatment
- medications such as Amphotericin B are available