Emerg Infect Dis<\/em>. 2024;doi:10.3201\/eid3010.231700.
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\n <\/figure>\nThe illness, which is more common in rural areas, cannot spread between humans and is not transmitted from humans to animals. The CDC recommends early testing and antifungal treatment to help prevent severe infections.<\/p>\n
It is critical for immunocompromised individuals to seek medical attention if they show symptoms consistent to the illness, according to Sandra R. Arnold, MD, MSc, <\/b>chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Le Bonheur Children\u2019s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are immunocompromised … you should seek care promptly if you have a respiratory illness or just a fever that is not improving after a few days,\u201d Arnold said in an email to Healio.<\/p>\n
The fungus that causes histoplasmosis was historically most prevalent in the Ohio River and Mississippi River basins, which includes Tennessee, although its geographic range in the United States has expanded. A source of the Tennessee outbreak near Nashville in Williamson and Maury counties has not been identified.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is nothing new to Tennessee and we see this in patients across the state every year, but we\u2019re trying to take a closer look in this instance to make sure that there is not something else people can do to protect themselves,\u201d Mary-Margaret Fill, MD, MPH,<\/b> interim state epidemiologist at the Tennessee Department of Health, told the Williamson County Board of Commissioners at a Jan. 12 meeting.<\/p>\n
It can be tricky to investigate a histoplasmosis outbreak, Arnold said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince histoplasmosis looks like so many other illnesses and there are many asymptomatic and mild infections, it will be difficult to assess the extent of the outbreak and to determine the source,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Last year, the Infectious Diseases Society of America began updating its clinical practice guidelines for managing histoplasmosis for the first time in 18 years. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really important to keep guidelines updated to address advances in what we know about diseases,\u201d Arnold said. \u201cI think that the guideline updates also serve to remind people of these diseases that are not as commonly diagnosed as others.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information:<\/h2>\n
Sandra Arnold, MD, MSc,<\/b> can be reached at sarnold5@uthsc.edu.<\/p>\n\n
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Published by:<\/span>
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Sources\/Disclosures<\/h3>\nReferences:<\/h2>\n\n
\n Disclosures: <\/strong>
\n Arnold reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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