Download Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome

Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome
Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome is a
growth in abnormal blood cells under the
retina induced by exposure to a particular
kind of histo fungus. The syndrome affects
the part of the retina responsible for close,
sharp vision deteriorates and eventually,
without treatment it can lead to complete
blindness. Ocular histoplasmosis syndrome
usually affects patients aged 20-50 years; the
average age is 35 years.
Risk Factors of the Syndrome
Histoplasmosis Syndrome
Histoplasmosis is a disease caused when
airborne spores of the fungus Histoplasma
capsulatum are inhaled into the lungs. Mild
cases can later cause ocular histoplasmosis
syndrome a leading cause of vision loss in
Americans ages 20 to 40.
droppings. High risk groups are
immunocompromised persons Approx. 80%
of population living in areas with endemic
disease are skin-test positive for the
histoplasmosis syndrome. Of HIV-infected
persons in these areas, 10% - 25% develop
disseminated histoplasmosis.
Treatment
Treatments vary from medication to surgery.
References:
Curtiss, M. (2005). Ocular histoplasmosis syndrome:
the science versus the experience. Retrieved from
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1762
Emedicine. (2010, February 10). Presumed ocular
histoplasmosis syndrome. Retrieved from
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1224400overview
National Eye Institute. (2010, February).
Histoplasmosis. Retrieved from
http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/histoplasmosis/index.a
sp
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectius
Diseases. (2010). Histoplasmosis and the eye.
Retrieved from http://www.medhelp.org/nihlib/GF13.html
Wrong Diagnosis. (n.d.). Histoplasmosis dbmd.
Retrieved from
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/artic/histoplasmosis
_dbmd.htm
Certain U.S. States
Individuals living in certain states that have
a high prevalence of histoplasmosis
exposure are also more likely to contract the
disease.
Areas with Endemic Disease
Persons in areas with endemic with
exposures to accumulations of bird or bat