Histoplasmosis is a disease that manifests in the body when airborne spores of the fungus known as Histoplasma capsulatum are breathed into the lungs, which is the most important infection site. This microscopic fungus, which is present across the world in soil and river valleys where bat or bird droppings collect, is released into the air when soil is moved by plowing fields, sweeping chicken coops, or due to digging of holes.
Histoplasmosis is generally so meek that it results in no noticeable symptoms. Any symptoms that might crop up are generally akin to those from a common cold. In fact, if a person had histoplasmosis symptoms, he might even ignore them as those from a flu or a cold, since the immune system of the body by and large triumphs over the infection in matter of a few days without any substantial treatment.
However, Histoplasmosis, in even not so strong cases, can afterward leads to a serious eye disease known as ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (OHS). OHS is a key cause of vision loss in Americans ages 20 to 40
OHS generally has no specific symptoms in its early stages; the initial OHS infection generally goes away without much requirement for treatment. This holds correct for other histo infections; in fact, often the only proof that the inflammation ever took place are small scars known as "histo spots," which stay on at the infection sites. Histo spots do not normally have an effect on vision, but for causes which can not be explained clearly, they can lead to major complications at times even decades after the original eye infection. Histo spots have been linked with the growth of the abnormal blood vessels at the bottom of the retina.
The only confirmed treatment for OHS is a type of laser surgery known as photocoagulation. A small, potent beam of light kills the delicate, abnormal blood vessels, and a small amount of the overlying retinal tissue. Even though the destruction of retinal tissue during the process can lead to some loss of vision, this is done in anticipation of safeguarding the fovea and protecting the finely-tuned vision it offers.
To know more about various Eye diseases, their prevention and cure, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center. For all kinds of Eye Lenses and Eye Glasses, feel free to contact us.
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