Blastomycosis
Definition
Blastomycosis is a rare infection caused by breathing in (inhaling) a fungus called Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is found in wood and soil.
Alternative Names
North American blastomycosis; Gilchrist's diseaseCauses
Blastomycosis occurs in people living in the south-central and midwestern United States and Canada. The infection is seen in 1-2 out of every 100,000 people in areas where the fungus most frequently occurs. It is even less common outside those areas.
Being around infected soil is the key risk factor.
The disease usually affects people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV or organ transplant recipients. Men are more likely to be affected than women.
Lung infection may produce no symptoms, but when the infection spreads, skin lesions or bone lesions may appear and the bladder, kidney, prostate, and testes may be affected.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by
URAC, also known as the American
Accreditation HealthCare Commission. URAC's accreditation program is
the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and
accountability, verified by independent audit.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2005 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.