Lung Infections Caused by Fungi in Soil

A recent study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found certain fungi in soil can cause a significant number of serious lung infections in 48 out of 50 states and the District of Columbia, including many areas long thought to be free of deadly environmental fungi.

Histoplasma is one of the three main species of soil fungi that cause lung infections in the U.S. Historically, Histoplasma was found in the Midwest and parts of the East, Coccidioides in the Southwest, and Blastomyces in the Midwest and the South. But a growing number of case reports and anecdotes suggest that all three have expanded out of their traditional ranges in recent decades.

People develop fungal lung infections after breathing in spores from fungi in the soil. The spores become airborne when the ground is disturbed by farming, landscaping, construction, or even just by people walking around in fungi-rich environments such as caves. Most healthy adults and children can fight off a fungal infection handily, but infants, older adults, and people with compromised immune systems may develop fever, cough, fatigue, and other symptoms. Fungal lung infections easily can be mistaken for bacterial or viral lung infections such as COVID-19, bacterial pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by a fungus called Histoplasma. The fungus lives in the environment, especially in soil that contains large amounts of bird or bat droppings. People can get histoplasmosis after breathing in the microscopic fungal spores from the air. Although most people who breathe in the spores don’t get sick, those who do may have a fever, cough, and fatigue. Many people who get histoplasmosis will get better on their own without medication, but in some people, such as those who have compromised immune systems, the infection can become severe.

Reference: “The Geographic Distribution of Dimorphic Mycoses in the United States for the Modern Era” by Patrick B Mazi, MD, John M Sahrmann, MA, Margaret A Olsen, PhD, Ariella Coler-Reilly, BA, Adriana M Rauseo, MD, Matthew Pullen, MD, Julio C Zuniga-Moya, MD, William G Powderly, MD and Andrej Spec, MD, 11 November 2022, Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Comments

Mycotoxic (Fungus) Moldy Foods - Top 10 List

This post is directed towards food concerns as related to mold. Mold is in our air, it plays a beneficial role in our ecosystem. We need mold, but do we need it in our food? Let this sink in - We cannot always control if we have mycotoxins in our food, we can control what foods we eat. If you think mold may be contributing to your health related issues, it's time to start thinking about your diet. Consuming any mycotoxin is never a good idea, so a diet consisting of foods with a higher probability of containing mycotoxins would not be considered wise. You are what you eat, never forget it! Now to get a bit more clinical. Definition of Mycotoxic - Pertaining to or emanating from a mycotoxin. Definition of Mycotoxin - Mycotoxin (from the Greek word (mykes) "fungus") Definition of Toxin - From the Greek word toxikon, lit. (poison) is a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms. Mycotoxins cause a wide range of health problems in humans when we ar

Multiple Sclerosis: Chronic Mycotoxicosis Mold?

As time goes on and the study of mycology advances we are seeing more and more evidence of "mold" related afflictions. We see humans, animals and insects all suffer from the diabolical nature of "mold". Given my vocation, I often wonder on how my 20+ years of exposure to mold with affect my future health. You are what you eat. Treat your body well, give it clean vibrant foods as often as you can. Stop drinking alcohol and eating processed foods and foods with sugar. MS Definition (as defined by the national ms society) - Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves an immune-mediated process in which an abnormal response of the body’s immune system is directed against the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. So, does the definition of MS coincide with the scientific research involving mycotoxins? "Future research should be directed at treating the disease as if it were caused by fungi and their devastating myco

Mold Testing - DIY Petri Method - Pro-Lab - Inaccurate?

We often receive calls and emails requesting mold testing services. We also are asked if the home tests are any good. Well, it really depends on how accurate of a test/results want. The Truth I can guarantee if you use a petri dish style spore capturing device and you send it to a lab, you will get results. The results will always show you have mold. Of course you have mold, mold spores are everywhere. You can put the petri dish anywhere and get results. They just won't be accurate results. On their website you will see fanfare and dropping corporate names as a way to bolster their product. In essence they might as well be selling tests for oxygen. Simply put they rely on the ignorance of the general public to sell their product. I can state with clarity, the results are not accurate nor indicative of the actual mold situation in your home. From an industry standard they would never be used to clear a project, post remediation. Which means their accuracy is poor. Why are they

Search This Blog