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At least 35 people have been sickened in a histoplasmosis outbreak in Tennessee in the past 3 months with 1 potentially related death, according to state health officials and a local news report. The Tennessee Department of Health has not found a clear source of exposure but warns the Histoplasma fungus is commonly found in soil throughout the state, making it difficult to prevent exposure. People with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of severe infection, and in the cases confirmed by local health experts, the average age of those infected is 50 years old.
Symptoms to watch: While histoplasmosis is a rare lung infection, it’s important to note that it can cause symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, fatigue, headache, and chest pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which means histoplasmosis may often be misdiagnosed or diagnosed late because the symptoms are similar to more common pneumonias caused by bacteria or viruses. Symptoms typically emerge within 3 to 17 days after exposure to the fungus. Histoplasma antigen detection in urine or serum is the most sensitive diagnostic method, according to CDC, although it may depend on clinical manifestation and severity. Urgent care clinicians may consult recently updated histoplasmosis guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America, although some of the guideline updates are still a work in progress.