A Michigan man died on Sunday at a Detroit hospital after battling a rare fungal disease.
Ian Pritchard, 29 from Harbor Springs, was being treated for a rare fungal infection at Henry Ford Hospital since December, according to WPBN. He was diagnosed with blastomycosis. He was initially hospitalized in Petoskey before being moved to Detroit.
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According to an update posted to the family’s GoFundMe page, Prichard passed away on Sunday with his family by his side, where he was taken off life support.
Prichard’s family had been raising money through a GoFundMe to help with medical expenses. It’s still open to help with funeral expenses. They’ve raised more than $18,000 at the time of this writing.
What to know about Blastomycosis
According to the CDC, blastomycosis is an infection caused by a fungus called Blastomyces. The fungus lives in the environment, particularly in moist soil and in decomposing matter such as wood and leaves. In the United States, the fungus mainly lives in the midwestern, south-central, and southeastern states, particularly in areas surrounding the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, the Great Lakes, and the Saint Lawrence River.
People can get blastomycosis after breathing in the microscopic fungal spores from the air. Although most people who breathe in the spores don’t get sick, some people will develop symptoms like fever and cough, and the infection can sometimes become serious if it is not treated.
Most people who have blastomycosis will need antifungal treatment.
Most people who have symptoms from blastomycosis will need treatment with prescription antifungal medication. Itraconazole is a type of antifungal medication that is typically used to treat mild to moderate blastomycosis. Amphotericin B is usually recommended for severe blastomycosis. Your doctor may test your blood to check if there is enough antifungal medication in your body. Depending on the severity of the infection and your immune system, the length of treatment can range from six months to one year.
Overall, blastomycosis is uncommon. Most cases occur in the United States and Canada. Blastomycosis is reportable in select U.S. states. Data from these states reveal yearly incidence rates of approximately ≤ 2 cases per 100,000 population,