People usually become infected with the fungus through breathing. In healthy people, the immune system usually defends itself against the fungus and kills it. But in people with weakened immune systems, the fungus can cause serious disease. HIV-related histoplasmosis can spread throughout the body, causing systemic disease. Symptoms include night sweats, fevers, extreme fatigue and weight loss.
Some people develop skin lesions.
Treatment for Histoplasmosis IV treatment with amphotericin B is the most common treatment used against histoplasmosis. Some doctors use oral itraconazole to treat people who have non life-threatening disease. IV treatment is followed by oral treatment for life. People with less than 100 T-cells have a higher risk of developing histoplasmosis if they are infected with the fungus. To avoid becoming infected with the fungus, HIV positive people should wear gloves and masks when gardening, handling soil and cleaning bird cages.