Chapter 19 Patho Flashcards
- Fungal spores
are inhaled, they reach the lungs and germinate. When this happens, the spores produce a frothy, yeast-like substance that leads to an inflammatory response. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages move into the infected area and engulf the fungal spores. The pulmonary capillaries dilate, the interstitium fills with fluid, and the alveolar epithelium swells with edema fluid. Because of the inflammatory reaction, the alveoli in the infected area eventually become consolidated. In severe cases, tissues necrosis, granulomas and cavity formation may be seen. During the healing process, fibrosis and calcification of the lung parenchyma ultimately replace the granulomas. The fibrosis and occasional calcification, the lung tissue retracts and becomes firm. FUNGAL DISEASES ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE SEEN IN TUBERCULOSIS.
- What is the most common fungal infection in the US?
histoplasmosis
- Incidence of histoplasmosis is especially high in what areas?
Mississippi
- The condition called ‘desert bumps’, ‘desert arthritis’, or ‘desert rheumatism’ is associated with which fungal disorder?
coccidioidmycosis
California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utuh.
- What is the other name for Coccidiodmycosis?
California fever, Desert rheumatism, San Joaquin valley disease, Valley fever
- What is used to treat fungal diseases?
Amphotericin B and Itraconazole
- Which form of histoplasmosis is characterized by healed lesions in the hilar lymph nodes as well as a positive histoplasmin skin test response?
Latent asymptomatic disease
- fungal diseases
~ the apical and posterior segments of the upper
lobes are most commonly involved
~ the anatomic changes of the lungs caused by
fungal diseases are similar to those seen in TB
~ cause a chronic restrictive pulmonary disorder
- anatomic alterations of the lungs
~ alveolar consolidation
~ alveolar-capillary destruction
~ caseous tubercles or granulomas
~ cavity formation
- fungal spores
various types are widely distributed throughout the air, soil, fomites, and animals, and even exist in the normal flora of humans
- human fungal disease
(mycotic disease or mycosis)
~ can be caused by primary or ‘true’ fungal
pathogens that exhibit some degree of virulence,
or secondary pathogens that take advantage of
a weakened immune system
- histoplasmosis
~ most common fungal infection in the US
~ caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma
capsulatum
~ especially high along major river valleys of the
Midwest and south
~ 80-90% of the population throughout these areas
show signs of previous infection
~ AKA ‘Ohio Valley Fever’
- H. capsulatum
~ commonly found in soils enriched with bird
excreta, such as soil next to chicken coops, etc
~ may also be carried by bats
- route of acquisition
~ inhalation of the fungal spores that are released
when the soil from an infected area is disturbed
~ when it reaches the alveoli, at body temp, it
converts from its mycelial form (mold) to a
parasitic yeast form
~ clinical manifestations are very similar to those of
TB
- asymptomatic histoplasmosis
is the most common form of histoplasmosis and produces no signs/ symptoms in healthy people