[an error occurred while processing this directive] 2004 Infectious Disease - Histoplasmosis [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]

2004 Indiana Report of Infectious Diseases

Histoplasmosis

Table 1. Histoplasmosis Cases by Race and Sex, Indiana, 2004
  2004 2000-2004
Cases Rate* Cases
Total 55 0.88 361
Race
   White 36 0.65 241
   Black 2 0.36 41
   Other 0 0 4
   Not Reported 17 - 75
Sex
   Male 37 1.21 218
   Female 18 0.57 143
   Not Reported 0 - 0

*Rate per 100,000 population based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s   population data as of July 1, 2004

Histoplasmosis is caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, a saprophytic soil fungus. The primary route of transmission is inhalation of infectious spores made airborne by the disturbance of contaminated soil. The presence of Histoplasma capsulatum has been associated with soil enriched with bird feces especially blackbirds, starlings, chickens, and pigeons. However, birds are not carriers of histoplasmosis, but accumulation of bird feces provide the organic enrichment needed for Histoplasma growth. Bat guano may also carry the organism.

Approximately 90 percent of Histoplasma capsulatum infections are asymptomatic. Clinically recognized histoplasmosis can be characterized into one of three forms:
1) acute, pulmonary histoplasmosis; 2) disseminated histoplasmosis; and 3) chronic, cavitary histoplasmosis. Symptoms of acute cases are flu-like with nonproductive cough, chest pains, and difficult breathing. More severe disease may result in fever, night sweats, weight loss, and bloody sputum. Severe cases may result in Histoplasma organisms being disseminated to many body organs.

In 2004, 55 confirmed cases of histoplasmosis were reported in Indiana for an incidence rate of less than one person per 100,000 population (Table 1). Figure 1 illustrates the number of cases by year for 2000-2004. Histoplamosis occurred throughout the year in 2004 with the largest number of cases in the winter (Figure 2). Figure 3 displays the distribution of cases by age group. Age-specific rates were greatest among adults aged 30-79 years of age. Males (1.21) were twice as likely to be reported with histoplasmosis infection than females (0.57).

In 2004, two counties reported five or more cases of histoplasmosis in Indiana: Marion and Delaware. The incidence rates were 1.0 case per 100,000 population for Marion County and 4.2 cases per 100,000 population for Delaware County.

You can learn more about histoplasmosis by visiting the following Web sites:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/histoplasmosis_g.htm
http://www.IN.gov/isdh/healthinfo/histopla.htm

 

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