Key points
- About half of people who breathe in spores from the fungus Blastomyces develop symptoms.
- Blastomycosis usually affects the lungs and causes symptoms of pnuemonia.
- It can cause skin lesions.
- Symptoms start 3 weeks to 3 months after exposure.
Symptoms
About half of people who breathe in Blastomyces spores develop symptoms. Blastomycosis usually affects the lungs causing symptoms of pneumonia, including:
- Fever
- Cough and shortness of breath
- Night sweats
- Muscle aches or joint pain
- Weight loss
- Chest, rib, or back pain
- Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
Some people with blastomycosis may also develop skin lesions, such as raised bumps, blisters, or ulcers.
Symptoms start 3 weeks to 3 months after a person breathes in spores from Blastomyces.
Signs and symptoms in animals
Pets, particularly dogs, can get blastomycosis, but spread between animals and people is very rare. The symptoms of blastomycosis in animals are similar to the symptoms in humans. People concerned about your pet's risk of getting blastomycosis or who think their pet has blastomycosis, should talk to a veterinarian.