Symptoms, treatment and when to seek help

A fungus called Aspergillus can cause allergic reactions or infections in some people. Doctors call this aspergillosis.

Aspergillosis occurs when a person inhales spores of the Aspergillus fungus into the lungs and the fungus grows there. This may occur if the body’s immune system is unable to fight off the infection.

most people You can breathe in Aspergillus spores and not get sick. However, people with lung disease or weakened immune systems may be more susceptible to aspergillosis. For some people, this is potentially dangerous.

Several types of situations exist. Invasive aspergillosis, in which the fungus spreads from the lungs into the bloodstream, can be life-threatening if left untreated.

most types Aspergillosis can cause coughing and shortness of breath, except for allergic aspergillosis sinusitis.

However, the severity of these symptoms varies depending on the type of aspergillosis, and some forms cause additional symptoms.

Some other symptoms depending on the type of aspergillosis include:

allergic aspergillosis

allergic aspergillosisDoctors may also call it allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, which causes inflammation of the lungs similar to an allergic reaction.

Sometimes, aspergillosis causes allergic sinusitis, causing symptoms only in the sinuses. A person may have a stuffy or stuffy nose.

people are More likely If you have asthma or cystic fibrosis, you may develop allergic aspergillosis.

Invasive aspergillosis

Invasive aspergillosis English Severe lung infection. It can also spread to other parts of the body, such as the brain or blood. Some types of invasive aspergillosis are resistant to first-line fungal treatments.

The condition is more common in people with weakened immune systems, such as people with HIV or AIDS. If left untreated, invasive aspergillosis can be fatal.

Learn more about invasive aspergillosis.

Aspergillus

Aspergilloma is a ball of fungus that can form in the lungs during an aspergillosis infection.Although aspergilloma may affect breathing, Not too possible spread to other parts of the body.

chronic aspergillosis

Chronic aspergillosis is less serious but occurs when Aspergillus causes an infection in the lung spaces. Symptoms can last 3 months or longer and often lead to aspergilloma.

Other types of aspergillosis

Some less common forms of this condition include:

Cutaneous aspergillosis

Cutaneous aspergillosis occurs when Aspergillus spores enter the body through a cut or other break in the skin. It also occurs when invasive aspergillosis spreads to the skin.

azole-resistant aspergillosis

Azole-resistant aspergillosis is an infection that is resistant to azoles, a class of antifungal drugs. Aspergillus fumigatus is often the pathogen. Treating azole-resistant aspergillosis can be challenging.

When a person inhales spores of the Aspergillus fungus and the body is unable to fight off the infection, the fungus can grow in the lungs.

This condition is more likely to occur in people with certain medical conditions, include:

The following groups are also more likely to experience this condition:

• organ transplant recipient
• People taking drugs that weaken the immune system
• Person with severe flu in hospital

Diagnosis of aspergillosis can be challenging.

This is because no diagnostic tool is 100% accurate. Some tests, such as laboratory cultures of lung tissue samples, can sometimes miss infections.

Doctors can make a diagnosis based on information about a person’s medical history, risk factors, and test results. Some tests your doctor may recommend include:

• Imaging scans of the lungs to look for nodules
• Draw blood to check for signs of infection and rule out other conditions
• Other blood tests, including galactomannan and Aspergillus polymerase chain reaction tests, can help detect Aspergillus infections in people with weakened immune systems, such as organ transplant recipients
• Lung biopsy, which is the only way to confirm the diagnosis

Antifungal drugs can treat aspergillosis.

Some medications your doctor may prescribe include:

• Itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox)
• Voriconazole (Vfend)
• Amphotericin B (AmBisome)
• Posaconazole (Norxafil)
• Caspofungin (Cancidae)

Depending on symptoms and other risk factors, a person may need to take antifungal medications for several days to several months.

Because these drugs often cause serious side effects, doctors usually only prescribe them after a lung biopsy shows someone has aspergillosis.

When someone has a serious infection that affects their ability to breathe, supportive care may be needed, often in a hospital setting. For example, people with underlying chronic lung disease may need additional treatments to control the condition and reduce the risk of developing another infection.

If a person has aspergilloma, the doctor may also recommend surgery.

Learn more about antifungal medications.

In some cases, some forms of aspergillosis can be fatal.

Invasive aspergillosis

Invasive forms of infection have Close to 100% Mortality without treatment.

Some other complications of invasive aspergillosis include:

chronic or allergic aspergillosis

Chronic or allergic aspergillosis can cause:

If you have chronic lung disease or a weakened immune system, you should seek medical help for new or worsening respiratory symptoms.

People without these conditions should seek help if:

• if they have severe difficulty breathing
• If cold or allergy symptoms don’t go away
• If they develop new difficulty breathing that doesn’t improve within a few days
• if they have signs of infection, such as fever and difficulty breathing
• If they feel very unwell after coming into contact with soil, dust or mold

Because Aspergillus is widespread, it is not always possible to prevent aspergillosis.

However, some strategies that can reduce the risk of infection include:

• Reduce mold exposure by removing moisture and improving ventilation in your home
• Wear a mask when contact with soil and dust cannot be avoided
• Treat chronic lung disease
• Talk to your doctor about preventive treatment with antifungal medications

Aspergillosis mainly affects people with chronic illness or lung disease. These are also risk factors for serious complications and other medical problems from the infection. It is important to manage chronic health conditions and seek immediate care for any new or worsening symptoms of infection.

If left untreated, invasive aspergillosis can be fatal. Even mild infections can seriously damage health, so it’s important for people with symptoms to seek prompt care.