Blastomycosis starts when microscopic spores of the fungus Blastomyces are inhaled into the lungs, typically after being disturbed in moist soil, decomposing wood, or leaves. Once in the lungs, these spores turn into yeast, causing a pulmonary infection that can spread to other body parts, such as the skin, bones, or joints.

How does a person get blastomycosis?

You can get blastomycosis by contact with moist soil, most commonly where there is rotting wood and leaves. The fungus enters the body through the lungs, where the infection starts. The fungus can then spread to other parts of the body. The disease may affect the skin, bones and joints, and other areas.

How long does it take for blastomycosis to show symptoms?

The incubation period for blastomycosis ranges from 3 weeks to 3 months. Common signs and symptoms of acute pulmonary blastomycosis are non-specific and include cough, fever, shortness of breath, night sweats, chills, fatigue, weight loss, non-healing skin lesions, chest pain, myalgia and arthralgia.

Where is blastomycosis most commonly found?

It is most common around the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, Great Lakes, Saint Lawrence River, and western United States. The fungus also lives in Canada and a small number of blastomycosis cases have been reported from Africa and India.

Can you get blastomycosis from mold?

How do you get blastomycosis? You get blastomycosis from breathing in Blastomyces mold from moist soil or rotting wood. It can grow in your lungs and sometimes spread to other parts of your body through your blood.

Doc Talk - Blastomycosis

What kills blastomycosis?

The antifungal itraconazole is usually used to treat mild to moderate blastomycosis. Amphotericin B is usually recommended for severe blastomycosis. Healthcare providers may test patients' blood to check if there is enough antifungal medication in their body.

How do I know if black mold is in my lungs?

Imaging tests such as a chest X-ray or CT scan can help with diagnosis because your doctor may be able to spot a nodule or fungal mass on your lung, caused by the mold, that would prompt your doctor to do further testing. If they are still unsure, a tissue biopsy may be the best way to get a clear diagnosis.

What does blastomycosis look like on skin?

Common sites of cutaneous lesions of blastomycosis are face, neck, scalp, and upper limbs. These may look elevated, crusted, warty, plaque-like, or ulcer-like and can vary in size from a few millimetres to several centimetres. Early lesions can also appear as papules or pustules.

How do you know if fungus is in your lungs?

We may need to conduct a lung scan (such as a CT scan) or consider using a bronchoscopy (telescope examination of your lungs) to enable direct sampling using fluid from your lungs to understand the presence of fungal infections. Special blood tests can also help determine whether you have an infection.

Can you test your soil for blastomycosis?

Soil testing is very difficult and is generally unreliable as a predictor of Blastomycosis even in areas of known occurrence.

What does blasto feel like?

Symptoms may develop between three weeks to three months following exposure and commonly include fever, cough, extreme fatigue, night sweats, muscle aches, and joint pain; however, about 50% of those infected will not become ill.

How do you test for blastomycosis?

Blastomycosis may be diagnosed by:

1. Culture (Blastomyces species can be isolated from saliva, respiratory samples, lung biopsies, skin, or other infected tissues)
2. Cytology smear (direct microscopic identification of broad-based budding yeast)
3. Histopathology of surgical biopsies.
4. Urine antigen test or serum antigen test.

What are the signs of blasto?

About half of people who breathe in Blastomyces spores develop symptoms. Blastomycosis usually affects the lungs causing symptoms of pneumonia, including: Fever. Cough and shortness of breath.

Can poor hygiene cause fungal infections?

Poor hygiene can increase the risk of fungal infections. Fungi are naturally on and inside our bodies. But, when they grow too much, they can harm us. Keeping clean is key to stopping this.

How long can you have blastomycosis without knowing?

About 1-in-2 people who are infected with blastomycosis are asymptomatic. Symptoms can start from 3 weeks to 3 months after exposure among people who are infected. The clinical presentation of blastomycosis is often non-specific, but symptoms may include: Fever.

What kills fungus in your lungs?

Five triazoles are currently licensed for systemic treatment of pulmonary fungal diseases: fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole and isavuconazole.

How to get rid of blastomycosis?

Itraconazole is the drug of choice in mild-to-moderate pulmonary blastomycosis. It offers ease of oral administration, low toxicity, and high efficacy. The appropriate dose is 600 mg per day for 3 days, then 200-400 mg per day for 6-12 months. Gastric acidity is required for absorption of itraconazole.

Can a blood test detect a fungal infection in the lungs?

Tissue and blood tests.

Skin testing, as well as sputum and blood tests, may be helpful in confirming allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

How to tell if a rash is fungal or bacterial?

A bacterial skin infection usually develops when bacteria enter through a cut or wound, leading to swelling, pus, or painful rashes. In contrast, a fungal skin infection thrives in warm, moist areas like skin folds, often appearing as circular, scaly, and itchy patches.

What are the bumps of blastomycosis?

Infection that spreads to the skin begins as very small, raised bumps (papules), which may contain pus. Raised, wart-like patches then develop, surrounded by tiny, painless collections of pus (abscesses). In blastomycosis, infection that spreads to the skin begins as very small, raised bumps.

Will mold exposure show up in bloodwork?

Yes, blood tests can help diagnose mold exposure or toxicity by checking for mold-specific antibodies (like IgE or IgG) to see if your immune system is reacting, or by detecting mycotoxins (mold toxins) directly, though mycotoxin tests might not be universally available and interpretation can be complex as mold spores are common. These tests help differentiate between a mold allergy (immune response) and potential mold poisoning (mycotoxin infection) and guide treatment, but a positive result doesn't always mean severe illness, just exposure. 

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