1. If I have a persistent cough and fever, why would my doctor ask me where I have been traveling and what activities I have been doing?
Some fungi are found in distinct geographical regions, such in the southwestern U.S. or midwestern U.S. If you have been around excavation or spelunking in caves, you may have been exposed to fungal
spores. This can be true, even if travel was not recent. Lung infections caused by some fungi may emerge months to even years after exposure. (For more on this, see
Traveler’s Diseases.)
^ Back to top
2. If my doctor thinks I have a fungal infection, why is he testing me for tuberculosis?
Many of the
signs and
symptoms associated with fungal lung infections could also be due to a
tuberculosis infection. Generally, a doctor would order tuberculosis testing (such as an
AFB smear and culture) to rule out a mycobacterial infection as the cause of your symptoms. The organisms that cause both conditions tend to be slow-growing – both in the body and in the laboratory.
^ Back to top
3. Why would my doctor take multiple kinds of samples?
Multiple samples may be taken to evaluate how far into the body an infection has spread and sometimes to increase the likelihood that the fungus will be recovered.
^ Back to top
4. Will my fungal infection eventually resolve itself without treatment?
Some may, but most persist without treatment. Lung and
systemic infections may grow progressively worse and cause permanent tissue and organ damage even when symptoms are not severe. Some deep infections are almost uniformly fatal without treatment.
^ Back to top
5. Is it really necessary to continue treatment for a long period of time?
Yes. Even if you start feeling better in a short period of time, you should follow your doctor’s recommendations. While yeast infections may resolve within a few days to weeks, some fungal infections may require months or even years of consistent treatment.
^ Back to top
