Rare Fungal Infection Blastomycosis Kills Michigan Chef, Leaves ‘Large Holes’ in His Lungs

A man from Michigan died due to a rare fungal infection. A photo of his lungs revealed that the fungi left large holes in his lungs.

Man From Michigan Contracted Fungi Infection Blastomycosis

Ian Pritchard, a 29-year-old chef from Petoskey, Michigan, was hospitalized the week before Thanksgiving after developing flu-like symptoms. His health rapidly declined after he arrived, and he was taken to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, where medical professionals discovered that he had blastomycosis, an uncommon fungal infection of the lungs.

Later, while undergoing treatment, Ian was put on life support and put into a medically induced coma. According to the CDC, blastomycosis is usually treated with an antifungal drug, and the course of treatment can vary from six months to a year, depending on the severity of the condition.

Treatment for Ian was a drawn-out procedure. In addition, he was in "critical condition" and would not be eligible for a lung transplant until the infection had cleared.

An update on Dec. 27 revealed that although Ian was brought out of his medically induced coma, he was still quite medicated and could only interact with others through nonverbal signs. "Ian is very aware and very much wants to fight to live," his family stated.

But on the evening of Feb. 3, Ian passed away in the company of his parents and sister, only a few days shy of his 30th birthday.

Ian's father, Ron Pritchard, told WPBN they were photos of his lungs, and "they looked like Swiss cheese" because the infection had reportedly "eaten large holes" in the organ.

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What Is Blastomycosis?

Blastomycosis is an infection brought on by the Blastomyces fungus. The fungus is found in the environment, especially in damp soil and inorganic materials that break down, such as wood and leaves. The fungus is primarily found in the midwestern, south-central, and southeastern states of the United States, especially in the regions around the Great Lakes, the Saint Lawrence River, and the basins of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Inhaling minute fungal spores from the air can cause blastomycosis in humans. People who breathe in the spores don't get sick, but some may call a fever and cough, and if the infection is left untreated, it can occasionally worsen.

The symptoms are similar to other lung infections, which are as follows, per CDC.

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Night sweats
• Muscle aches or joint pain
• Weight loss
• Chest, rib, or back pain
• Fatigue (extreme tiredness)

Blisters, ulcers, and elevated bumps on the skin are examples of skin lesions that some blastomycosis patients may have. Blastomycosis symptoms typically show up three weeks to three months after a person breathes in fungal spores.

Blastomycosis can spread from the lungs to other body areas, including the skin, bones, joints, and the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, in specific individuals, especially those with compromised immune systems.

The CDC notes that there is no vaccine to prevent blastomycosis, and it may not always be entirely possible to shield oneself against the fungus that causes the sickness, particularly in regions where it is prevalent.

Individuals with compromised immune systems might think twice before engaging in any activity disturbing the soil in the aforementioned regions.

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