HISTOPLASMOSIS: THE BIRD DROPPINGS DISEASE

(Page 2 of 2)

November/December 1983
by Margie Bowman 
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[1] When sweeping chicken coops and the like, wet down the surface to help keep the spores from becoming airborne.

[2] Try to keep farm buildings and storm cellars as dry and clean as possible.

[3] Wear a filtering mask when cleaning old buildings, attics, or towers where birds have roosted for a long time. Make sure, too, that any dust you're sweeping doesn't get sucked into a building's heating or air-conditioning system, thereby spreading the spores even farther.

[4] Take precautions in (or just plain avoid) caves inhabited by bats.

[5] You can have your soil tested for histo spores. According to a National Eye Institute report, the soil, if affected, can be treated with a 3% Formalin solution.

[6] Because the spores in endemic areas are hard to avoid, be aware of the symptoms. Sometimes the seriousness ofhistoplasmosis, ocular or respiratory, depends on the amount of time that passes before it's treated.

[7] If you do contract presumed ocular histoplasmosis, the National Eye Institute (Office ofScientific Reporting, Dept. TMEN, National Institutes of Health, Building 31-6A31, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20205, telephone 301/496-5248) will send you a list of 12 clinical centers that are studying macular photocoagulation, as well as information on histoplasmosis as both an eye ailment and a lung disease.

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  • arlene 7/22/2008 2:09:40 AM

    I had histo since I was 25, and had not been around any birds of any kind. from Ohio. was told the great lakes area had to most cases. today, I have wet mac. question/
    did this turn into wet mac, or do I have both. can't afford any treatments. lack of funds and health insurance, and job., so I don't get any more answer. I am 60.
    It happened all at once, I went outside on a really snowy bright day, downtown, looked up and had some big snowflakes land on my face and tongue. went inside to work., I started seeing in 3-D. no kidding. was a friday, and that tues, I was at the eye surgeons office. was sent to Columbus, where they do the rare disease testing. They confirmed it. My dr. had diagnosed it, but because of my young age, he wanted a second opinion. great doctor! they don't make them like him anymore., unfortunately.

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