I find it beautiful when I see a cluster of mushrooms around a dead tree log. Seeing the patterns they grow in and the shapes they express is a good experience. However, I think when observing fungi in the outdoors, it is better to admire them from a distance. Fungi may look beautiful, but that does not mean they are harmless. One such family of fungi that can cause problems if you get to close is Emmonsia crescens, which causes a rare fungal infection called adiaspiromycosis.
General Description:
Adiaspiromycosis is an airborne infection that causes lung disease and is caused by a saprophytic fungi called Emmonsia crescens. This infection is present in almost every region of the world. It is acquired by breathing in spores from contaminated soil and symptoms can range from no symptoms at all to fatal consequences. The symptoms depend of how spread out the fungus is in the lungs and diagnosis can be difficult. There are some viable treatment options but the main challenge is diagnosing it first.
Locations:
This infection is uncommon but cases are spread out across the world. Some areas where most of the cases have been reported include the United States, Europe, Israel, Central and South America, and even Turkey.
Infection Method:
The infection begins by inhaling fungal spores from contaminated soil. The spores settle in the lungs where they are attacked by the body's immune system. The while blood cells begin to encapsulate the spores, creating granulomas. This inflammation depends on the number of spores that were inhaled. Adiaspiromycosis does not generally spread into other parts of the body and does not multiply in the lungs. The amount of spores breathed will relate to how severe the symptoms will be.
Symptoms:
There are two main categories of infection and this relates to the symptoms that are expressed. The first type is a localized granulomatous disease and the second is a disseminated disease. With localized, the infection may not present any symptoms. However, when the condition is disseminated, some of the symptoms include:
- fever
- coughing
- trouble breathing
Treatment:
Diagnosis can be challenging because different patients inhale a different number of spores. If the infection is localized, then diagnosis can be as simple as getting an X-ray. Sometimes the infection is diagnosed by chance, as it is difficult to see all the affected areas in the lung. There are drugs and medications that can treat this condition and it all depends on the status of the infection for each patient. If the granulomas are severe, surgical removal is an option.
Final Thoughts:
Although the thought that this fungal infection is airborne and is across the globe sounds terrifying, prevention is not that difficult. Adiaspiromycosis does not multiply once inside a person, so it all depends on how many spores are inhaled. To be safe, when exploring the wilderness or traveling to a location with vegetation, be cautious when interacting with decaying material. If you suspect that you breathed in too much decaying material, be wary if symptoms like the ones mentioned above begin to show and seek medical attention if needed. Overall, this infection is uncommon and as long as you do not interact with decaying material too much then there is no worry about acquiring this infection.
I hope you all found this information interesting. Be sure to comment if you have any stories related to this infection or if you have recommendations for future posts!
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1081399/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1755001711000340
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