- Cardiology 84
- Dermatology 45
- Endocrinology 33
- ENT 16
- Fertility 190
- Gastroenterology 78
- General-Medicine 81
- Gynecology 80
- Hematology 19
- Infectious-Diseases 33
- Neurology 52
- Oncology 34
- Ophthalmology 23
- Orthopedics 69
- Pediatrics 31
- Procedure 23
- Public-Health 144
- Pulmonology 59
- Radiology 8
- Urology 68
- Wellness 161
- Woman-and-child 77
- 3759
- 3.5 Minute
What is Aspergillosis?
Aspergillosis is an infection, allergic reaction, or fungal growth caused by the Aspergillus fungus. This fungus thrives on dead leaves and decomposing vegetation. Almost everyone comes into contact with it regularly, but most people never get sick.
Who is at Risk?
- Weakened Immune Systems : People with weak immune systems are more likely to get infected.
- Lung Disease or Asthma : Those with lung conditions or asthma are at higher risk.
Where is Aspergillus Found?
- Indoor and Outdoor : The mold that causes aspergillosis can be found both indoors and outdoors.
- Inhalation of Spores : When people with compromised immune systems inhale the fungal spores, it can lead to infection.
Types of Aspergillosis
Varied forms of aspergillosis have different effects on the body. You're more likely to develop each type if you have certain medical conditions or take certain medications. Aspergillosis manifests itself in a variety of ways.
Secure your health with a second opinion. Make informed decisions and book your appointment today!
Get A Second OpinionAllergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis
The fungus causes allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), which causes coughing and wheezing. If you have a lung condition like cystic fibrosis or asthma, you're more likely to contract this type of aspergillosis. Shortness of breath and a general sense of being sick are also symptoms of ABPA.
Invasive Aspergillosis
- If your immune system has been damaged by chemotherapy or illnesses like leukemia, cancer, or AIDS, you're more likely to get an invasive form of aspergillosis.
- Infections are more difficult to resist when the immune system is weakened. This type of aspergillosis attacks the tissues of your lungs and can extend to your kidneys or brain.
- Invasive aspergillosis can lead to infectious pneumonia if left untreated. In patients with weakened immune systems, infectious pneumonia can be fatal.
Aspergilloma
- Exposure to the fungus can trigger fungus growth if you have tuberculosis or another lung condition.
- This form of development, also known as a fungus ball, is made up of fungus, clots, and white blood cells. Typically, the growth does not migrate to other parts of your body.
- The ball, on the other hand, can get larger and cause damage to your lung tissues.
Symptoms of Aspergillosis
When the infection has moved fast from the lungs to the brain, sinuses, heart, kidneys, or skin, it is known as aspergillosis. People who have weakened immune systems due to cancer chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, or an immune system disorder. Aspergillosis can be lethal if left untreated.
- Common Signs Include:
- Fever and chills
- Cough which brings up blood
- Shortness of breath
- Chest or joint pain
- Headache and eye symptoms
Ready to take control of your health journey? Book your appointment now and start your path towards wellness today!
Book an AppointmentTreatment of Aspergillosis
Treatments for aspergillosis differ depending on the type of infection. Treatment options include:
Observation
Simple, solitary aspergillomas don't always require treatment, and drugs aren't always helpful in removing these fungi. Instead, aspergillomas that aren't causing symptoms can be checked with a chest X-ray. Antifungal drugs may be prescribed if the illness worsens.
Oral Corticosteroids
The method of therapy for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is to keep asthma and cystic fibrosis from getting worse. Oral corticosteroids are the most effective approach to achieve this. Antifungal drugs aren't effective on their own for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, but they can be used in conjunction with corticosteroids to lower the dose of steroids and improve lung capacity.
Antifungal Medications
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is treated with these medications. Voriconazole, a newer antifungal medicine, is the most successful treatment (Vfend). Another alternative is amphotericin B. All antifungal medications have the potential to cause major side effects, such as kidney and liver damage. Antifungal drug interactions with other treatments are also common.
Embolization
This technique stops aspergilloma-related lung hemorrhage. A radiologist uses a catheter to inject a substance into an artery feeding a lung cavity where an aspergilloma is causing blood loss due to an aspergilloma. The injected material solidifies, cutting off the area's blood supply and halting the bleeding. This treatment works for a while, but the bleeding will most likely return.
Surgery
As antifungal drugs have a hard time penetrating an aspergilloma, surgery to remove the fungal mass is the first line of defense when an aspergilloma causes pulmonary hemorrhage.
Causes of Aspergillosis
- Mold caused by Aspergillus niger is unavoidable. It can be found in decaying leaves and compost, as well as on plants, trees, and grain crops, outside.
- For those with healthy immune systems, daily exposure to aspergillus is rarely a concern. Inhaled mold spores are surrounded and destroyed by immune system cells.
- People with a weaker immune system due to disease or immunosuppressive medicines, on the other hand, have fewer infection-fighting cells.
- Aspergillus can then take hold, infiltrating the lungs and, in the worst-case scenario, other sections of the body. It is not spread from one person to another.
Aspergillosis Diagnosis
The doctor will discuss your symptoms with you and go through your medical history to see if you have any problems that render you vulnerable to the sickness. A biopsy is typically used to obtain and test lung tissue for invasive aspergillosis. Your doctor may also use a tool to access your lungs and collect a little sample of fluid for fungal testing through your mouth or nose.
The tests will include:
- Blood Tests to check for the antibodies and fungus molecules
- Chest X-Ray
- CT Scan of the lungs
- Sputum stain and culture for examining the bronchial mucus
Conclusion
Treatment usually heals allergic aspergillosis. If you're exposed to the fungus on a regular basis, you can acquire it again. Recovery from invasive aspergillosis is dependent on your general health and immune system strength. Aspergilloma is a fungal infection that usually does not require treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aspergillosis typically occurs when susceptible individuals inhale Aspergillus spores. It is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
Symptoms of invasive aspergillosis vary based on the organs affected, but commonly include fever, cough with blood, breathing difficulties, chest or joint pain, eye symptoms, headaches, and skin lesions.
While many cases of invasive aspergillosis can be fatal, some patients have been successfully treated with voriconazole, suggesting possible recovery from the infection.
Aspergillus fungi are commonly found in decaying vegetation, stored grains, compost piles, and occasionally on marijuana plant leaves. Infections are rare in individuals with healthy immune systems despite exposure to the fungus.
Aspergillosis is a group of fungal infections caused by Aspergillus, a mould commonly found indoors and outdoors. It firstly affects the lungs but can also involve other organs in people with weakened immune systems or underlying lung conditions.
Aspergillosis is acquired by inhaling fungal spores from the environment, particularly from mouldy or decaying organic matter. It can also spread through skin contact with mould or ingestion of contaminated food.
Depending on the kind and intensity of the infection, symptoms can include fever, exhaustion, coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, and, in rare situations, sinusitis or allergic responses.
People with underlying lung disorders including asthma, cystic fibrosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary illness, as well as those receiving chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, or HIV/AIDS patients, are more vulnerable.
- Cardiology 2132
- Dermatology 168
- Endocrinology 135
- ENT 97
- Fertility 217
- Gastroenterology 232
- General 478
- General-Medicine 1685
- Gynecology 169
- Hematology 85
- Infectious-Diseases 208
- Neurology 207
- Oncology 345
- Ophthalmology 65
- Orthopedics 187
- Pediatrics 83
- Procedure 72
- Public-Health 209
- Pulmonology 126
- Radiology 13
- Second Opinion 311
- Urology 294
- Wellness 600
- Woman-and-child 447
Related Blogs
If you have any questions, please fill out the enquiry form or call us, and we will get back to you promptly.
040-68334455
