Histoplasmosis

September 2005     View PDF     En español
Reprinted from www.aidsmeds.com, US

Can it be prevented?

Because H. capsulatum can be found in dirt and soil—particularly in central parts of the United States—it is very difficult to prevent coming into contact with the fungus. Moreover, H. capsulatum can live in a person’s body for many months or possibly years before it causes disease, depending on the health of the person’s immune system.

If your T-cell count is below 150, you should take care when engaging in certain activities, especially if you live in central parts of the United States. For example, it’s a good idea to wear a mouth and nose guard/mask if dust is created while working with surface soil, or cleaning chicken coops, disturbing soil beneath bird-roosting sites, or exploring caves.

Because histoplasmosis is more likely to occur in HIV-positive people with compromised immune systems, the best way to help prevent it from occurring is to keep the immune system healthy, such as by using antiretroviral drugs, reducing stress, eating right, and getting plenty of rest.