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- $Unique_ID{BRK03528}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Blastomycosis}
- $Subject{Blastomycosis North American Blastomycosis Gilchrist's Disease South
- American Blastomycosis Paracoccidioidomycosis}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1986 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 166:
- Blastomycosis
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible that the main title of the article (Blastomycosis) is not
- the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
- alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- North American Blastomycosis
- Gilchrist's Disease
- Note: South American Blastomycosis is be found under the name
- Paracoccidioidomycosis.
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or
- treatment purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this
- disorder, please contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed
- in the "Resources" section of this report.
-
-
- Blastomycosis is a fungal disease involving the lungs and sometimes the
- skin and other organs. It occurs primarily in the southeastern and
- Mississippi valley areas of the United States. However, it has also been
- found in the north central part of the U.S., Canada, and in parts of Africa.
- Frequent contact with soil appears to somehow be associated with the
- disease. It affects men far more frequently than women. Untreated
- Blastomycosis may be progressively fatal within several months, but
- treatment is effective for curing the disease.
-
- Symptoms
-
- The first symptoms of Blastomycosis are usually pulmonary or bronchial.
- Coughing may be either dry and hacking or producing phlegm. Fever, chills,
- heavy sweating and difficulty breathing may also be present. Skin
- manifestations may appear simultaneously or slightly later, often on exposed
- surfaces at the site of a small injury such as a cut. Papules or
- papulopustules (bumps or hard blisters) enlarge to about an inch in
- diameter; the centers heal and the borders are purplish, sloping, and
- studded with small abscesses.
-
- Blastomycosis spreads by way of the blood stream to various other
- internal organs. These include the testes, epididymis and prostate, bone,
- and subcutaneous tissue. Rarely, the eyes, larynx, adrenal and thyroid
- glands, and central nervous system are involved. Swelling, pain, and
- inflammation occur in affected tissues. X-rays reveal destruction of bone.
-
- Causes
-
- Blastomycosis is caused by a fungus known as Blastomyces dermatitides.
- Scientists know neither the source of the microorganism nor how humans
- become infected with it.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Blastomycosis occurs most often in the southeastern and Mississippi valley
- areas of the United States. It also occasionally occurs in the north
- central states, Canada and in parts of Africa. People who work in contact
- with the soil such as farmers and construction workers seem to be especially
- susceptible. Men are affected 9 times more frequently than women.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Blastomycosis is a systemic fungal disease. Various other examples of this
- type of disease exist; e.g., Paracoccidioidmycosis which is sometimes known
- as South American Blastomycosis. The pathogenic fungus of
- Paracoccidioidmycosis is no longer considered very closely related to that
- which causes blastomycosis, however.
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Amphotericin B destroys the causative microorganism and brings about
- improvement of Blastomycosis within about a week. Patients who do not
- tolerate amphotericin B may be treated with hydroxystilbamidine isethionate,
- although this drug is difficult to administer and may have various side
- effects.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- September 1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to
- keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and
- accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for
- the most current information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Blastomycosis, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- 1600 Clifton Road, NE
- Atlanta, GA 30333
- (404) 639-3534
-
- NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-5717
-
- References
-
- THE MERCK MANUAL 15th ed: R. Berkow, et al: eds; Merck, Sharp & Dohme
- Research Laboratories, 1987. Pp. 142, 1621.
-
- CECIL TEXTBOOK OF MEDICINE, 18th ed.: James B. Wyngaarden, and Lloyd H.
- Smith, Jr., Eds.: W. B. Saunders Co., 1988. Pp. 1838-43, 2334.
-
-