Clinical signs of feline histoplasmosis are generally vague and non-specific, including lethargy, weight loss, anorexia, and fever. Respiratory signs such as cough or trouble breathing are also common, and enlarged lymph nodes, skin masses, and ocular changes can occur less frequently.
How long do cats live with histoplasmosis?
Unfortunately, even when treated appropriately, only about 70 percent of dogs and cats survive to six months after diagnosis — even otherwise healthy and young to middle-aged ones. This highlights the need for a better recognition of histoplasmosis, hopefully leading to earlier diagnoses and better treatment outcomes.
Can cats recover from histoplasmosis?
Most cats do make a complete recovery from histoplasmosis. It should be noted that if the infection progresses to the point of affecting the central nervous system, prognosis is guarded although recovery is still possible.
What are the early symptoms of histoplasmosis?
When signs and symptoms occur, they usually appear three to 17 days after exposure and can include:Fever.Chills.Headache.Muscle aches.Dry cough.Chest discomfort.Fatigue.Histoplasmosis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
What does histoplasmosis look like?
In most cases, histoplasmosis causes mild flu-like symptoms that appear between 3 and 17 days after exposure to the fungus. These symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, cough and chest discomfort. In these milder forms, most symptoms go away on their own in a few weeks.
How does a cat get a fungal infection in the lungs?
So how could your cat become infected with histoplasmosis? Most likely by inhaling fungal spores, which then set up camp in the lungs and multiply, causing a localized infection. Your cat can also become infected through oral transmission, where the organism then causes an infection in the intestines.
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