histoplasmosis

noun

his·​to·​plas·​mo·​sis ˌhi-stə-plaz-ˈmō-səs 

: a respiratory disease with symptoms like those of influenza that is caused by a fungus (Histoplasma capsulatum) and is marked by benign involvement of lymph nodes of the trachea and bronchi or by severe progressive generalized involvement of the lymph nodes and tissues (as of the liver or spleen) rich in macrophages

Examples of histoplasmosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some other fungal diseases of humans are also on the move, such as histoplasmosis and blastomycosis. —Mark Takahashi, Ars Technica, 27 Sep. 2023

Enlarge / Histoplasma capsulatum is a species of parasitic, yeast-like dimorphic fungus that can, if inhaled, cause a type of lung infection called histoplasmosis. —Mark Takahashi, Ars Technica, 27 Sep. 2023

Those are Valley fever in the dry Southwestern US; histoplasmosis in the damp Ohio River valley; and blastomycosis, with a range that stretched from the Great Lakes down the Mississippi to New Orleans, and as far east as the Virginia coast. —Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 25 Aug. 2023

In contrast, histoplasmosis and valley fever typically do not cause symptoms.1517 Valley fever may cause flu-like symptoms that go away within weeks to months. —Korin Miller, Health, 6 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Histoplasma, genus of fungi

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

histoplasmosis

noun

his·​to·​plas·​mo·​sis -ˌplaz-ˈmō-səs 

plural histoplasmoses -ˌsēz 

: a respiratory disease with symptoms like those of influenza that is endemic in the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys of the United States, is caused by infection with a fungus of the genus Histoplasma (H. capsulatum), and is marked by benign involvement of lymph nodes of the trachea and bronchi usually without symptoms or by severe progressive generalized involvement of the lymph nodes and macrophage-rich tissues (as of the liver and spleen) with fever, anemia, leukopenia and often with local lesions (as of the skin, mouth, or throat)