Key Points
- Determining a work-related case of histoplasmosis can be difficult, but there are questions healthcare providers can ask to help.
- Providers should consider a histoplasmosis diagnosis for patients who report activities exposing them to soil with bird or bat droppings.
Overview
Healthcare providers should consider histoplasmosis as a diagnosis in patients with a compatible illness who have occupations or participate in activities exposing them to soil that contains bird or bat droppings. This is especially true in areas where Histoplasma is common.
Determining a work-related case
Determining whether a histoplasmosis case is work-related can be difficult if the case is not clearly associated with an outbreak. Healthcare providers should ask patients with histoplasmosis about their occupation, work activities, and other outdoor activities. In certain states, healthcare providers and laboratories must report histoplasmosis cases to public health authorities. Collecting information about industry and occupation as part of routine public health surveillance for histoplasmosis is also important for identifying work-related histoplasmosis.
Evaluation
The most common way to test for histoplasmosis is taking a blood or urine sample and sending it to a laboratory for testing. These tests can detect Histoplasma antibodies or antigen.
Other diagnosis methods include taking a sample of fluid from the patient's respiratory tract or a tissue biopsy to either:
- Examine under a microscope
- See if Histoplasma will grow in culture from these samples
Healthcare providers can also consider imaging tests such as chest x-rays or CT scans. Find more information about the specific types of tests for histoplasmosis at Information for Healthcare Professionals about Histoplasmosis.