Family Speaks Out After Woman Dies from Histoplasmosis
A family in Spring Hill, Tennessee, is raising concerns after a woman reportedly died from a histoplasmosis cluster. They are worried about delays in testing and treatment following her case.
The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) has confirmed 35 cases of histoplasmosis in Williamson and Maury counties as part of their ongoing investigation. However, they have not pinpointed a clear source of exposure, which isn’t unusual for this kind of infection.
Histoplasmosis is a lung infection caused by a fungus commonly found in soil. Symptoms can mimic those of pneumonia or other respiratory issues, including cough, chest pain, fever, chills, fatigue, and breathlessness.
The family of Alyssia Brown, who lived with her roommate and best friend, Kimberly Shelton, reported that Brown developed a cough shortly after moving into their home in October. Shelton noted that at first, the cough didn’t seem too concerning.
“After we moved in, she started developing a little bit of a cough; it lasted for weeks but didn’t seem serious,” Shelton shared.
Gwendolyn Brown, Alyssia’s mother, mentioned that she recognized the symptoms after learning about the histoplasmosis cluster online. She read the information to Alyssia, who responded, “Mom, that’s literally every single symptom that I have.”
Alyssia visited the emergency room on December 8, where she was treated for bronchitis and prescribed prednisone. However, her condition seemingly worsened afterward.
According to Shelton, when they sought further medical assistance days later, she insisted on testing for histoplasmosis due to the troubling reports in their area.
“They didn’t want to test her initially. I had to push them, saying, ‘there’s this thing going around, can you please just test her for it?’” Shelton recalled.
The histoplasmosis test was finally ordered on December 13, but sadly, Alyssia passed away on December 15. A few days later, the family learned she was positive for the infection.
Shelton expressed her devastation, wishing no one else would have to endure such a loss. “Living my life without my best friend is beyond stupid. I don’t want anybody else to have to go through this,” she said.
In response to inquiries, TDH clarified that it cannot confirm the cause of death for individuals and doesn’t comment on the actions of private healthcare providers. They had communicated about the histoplasmosis cluster to local providers in a health alert earlier in December, including recommendations for testing.
TDH noted that histoplasmosis is widely present in Tennessee soil, making it challenging to completely avoid exposure. Those with weakened immune systems or significant exposure to spores are particularly at risk for severe infection.
To mitigate risks, TDH suggests avoiding outdoor activities that disrupt soil and limiting contact with bird and bat droppings. For higher-risk tasks, such as cleaning chicken coops or exploring caves, wearing an N-95 mask is recommended.
Gwendolyn Brown urged others to advocate for testing if they suspect exposure. “Ask for testing. Keep asking until you get it,” she stated.
The family is still awaiting official autopsy results but hopes that by sharing their story, they can encourage others to take lingering symptoms seriously and seek medical attention when necessary.
