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在线翻译:
szdaily -> Lifestyle -> 
What is cave disease?
    2018-07-13  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

AFTER two harrowing weeks trapped inside a dark, damp cave, the entire Thai soccer team — 12 players, ages 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach — has been successfully rescued from the Tham Luan Nang Non cave.

The dangerous search and rescue mission is over, but the boys and their coach may have another potential battle ahead of them: “cave disease,” also known as histoplasmosis.

Here’s what you need to know about cave disease and the journey the team has ahead of them as they recover.

Cave disease, also called histoplasmosis, is a lung infection caused by the fungus “histoplasma,” which thrives in areas with high bird or bat populations, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“People can get histoplasmosis after breathing in the microscopic fungal spores from the air, often after participating in activities that disturb the soil,” the CDC explains in a blog post online. “Although most people who breathe in the spores don’t get sick, those who do may have a fever, cough and fatigue.”

Most people who contract histoplasmosis just need time to recover, but those who have weakened immune systems could be at risk for serious, sometimes fatal, infections.

“In some people, such as those who have weakened immune systems, the infection can become severe, especially if it spreads from the lungs to other organs,” the CDC says.

There is medicine to treat the disease, however. According to the CDC, many doctors prescribe the antifungal medication Itraconazole, which may need to be taken anywhere from three months to a year in order to completely fight off the infection.

Thailand’s Navy SEALs confirmed that all 12 boys and their coach are safe and have been transported via helicopter to local hospitals. Jedsada Chokdumrongsuk, permanent secretary at the Public Health Ministry, said at least two of the boys have a lung infection. “The kids are footballers so they have high immune systems,” Chokdumrongsuk said. “Everyone is in high spirits and are happy to get out. But we will have a psychiatrist to evaluate them.”

It could be at least seven days before they can be released from the hospital, Chokdumrongsuk said. Doctors are taking a cautious approach, placing the boys in isolation as they monitor their health and watch for infections.

(SD-Agencies)

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