 histoplasmosis (also known as "cave disease," "darling's disease," "ohio valley disease," "reticuloendotheliosis," "spelunkerâs lung" and "caver's disease") is a disease caused by the fungus histoplasma capsulatum. symptoms of this infection vary greatly, but the disease affects primarily the lungs. occasionally, other organs are affected; this is called disseminated histoplasmosis, and it can be fatal if left untreated. histoplasmosis is common among aids patients because of their suppressed immunity. in immunocompetent individuals, past infection results in partial protection against ill effects if reinfected. histoplasma capsulatum is found in soil, often associated with decaying bat guano or bird droppings. disruption of soil from excavation or construction can release infectious elements that are inhaled and settle into the lung. ==symptoms==  if symptoms of histoplasmosis infection occur, they will start within 3 to 17 days after exposure; the average is 12â14 days. most affected individuals have clinically silent manifestations and show no apparent ill effects. the acute phase of histoplasmosis is characterized by non-specific respiratory symptoms, often cough or flu-like. chest x-ray findings are normal in 40â70% of cases. chronic histoplasmosis cases can resemble tuberculosis;{{cite journal | author=tong p, tan wc, pang m | title=sporadic disseminated histoplasmosis simulating miliary tuberculosis| journal=br med j (clin res ed)| volume
Fungal_diseases Mycosis-related_cutaneous_conditions Rare_diseases Rare_infectious_diseases Wildlife_diseases