Occurrence of identical clinical findings in patients from areas where histoplasmosis is rare is evidence against histoplasmosis as a cause for this syndrome. The eye may be involved in patients with disseminated histoplasmosis, however. Therapy for histo is not effective and should not be tried in patients with presumed ocular histo. Laser treatment, corticosteroids and surgery often are helpful in patients with presumed ocular histo. Such treatments are supervised by ophthalmologists experienced with diseases of the retina rather than by internal medicine or infectious disease specialists.
Several tests are useful for diagnosing histoplasmosis.
Since histo is acquired by breathing the germ into the lungs, it usually causes abnormalities on chest X-ray. Although a chest X-ray does not provide an exact diagnosis of histo, it is often useful for suggesting the possibility of histo to your doctor. However, in individuals with underlying diseases which predispose them to the more severe forms of infection, treatment is available and is generally recommended. Amphotericin B is a medication which is given by daily or intermittent administration into your veins. Amphotericin B must be administered for prolonged periods, usually 4-12 weeks, to eradicate histo.