Histoplasmosis is a rare fungal infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, which is found in the environment. A median of 184 cases of histoplasmosis are reported each year. Around 50 cases/year are classified epidemiologically as confirmed. Histoplasmosis occurs most frequently in middle-age and older adults.
How many people get histoplasmosis each year?
Histoplasmosis is the most common endemic fungal infection in North America that affects the lungs. Each year, up to 250,000 people in the U.S. are found to have histoplasmosis.
How many cases of histoplasmosis are there in the US?
One study calculated the incidence of histoplasmosis in adults aged 65 years and older in the U.S. to be 3.4 cases per 100,000 population. Rates were highest in the Midwest, with an estimated 6.1 cases per 100,000 population.
How many people are affected by histoplasmosis worldwide?
Globally, about half a million people get infected with Histoplasma infection every year. However, approximately 100,000 people develop disseminated disease [18], with mortality rates, if treated, ranging between 30 to 50% [3,19,20], and 100% if not.
How easy is it to get histoplasmosis?
People usually get it from breathing in these spores when they become airborne during demolition or cleanup projects. Soil contaminated by bird or bat droppings also can spread histoplasmosis, putting farmers and landscapers at a higher risk of the disease.
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