Aspergillosis is an infectious disease caused by the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, present in various environments, such as soil, pantas, decomposition and construction materials, for example, so people are in frequent contact with the fungus, but not all develop the disease.
Aspergillosis occurs most often in people whose immune systems are weakened by diseases such as HIV and lupus, for example, or by organ transplants or the use of drugs that decrease immune system activity, such as corticosteroids, chemotherapy, or immunosuppressants.
- The main route of Aspergillus infection is inhalation.
- Which allows it to stay in the lungs and cause symptoms such as coughing.
- Shortness of breath and fever.
- Which can quickly worsen and affect other parts of the body.
- Such as the brain.
- Heart or kidneys.
- Especially when antifungal treatment is not initiated.
After inhaling the spores of Aspergillus fumigatus, the fungus can colonize the airways and remain in the body without symptoms; However, in people with weakened immune systems, symptoms may appear depending on the affected site and severity of infection, and there may be:
It occurs primarily in people with a history of chronic lung diseases, such as asthma or cystic fibrosis, and includes signs such as:
This is the least serious type of reaction and, in most cases, it can even be treated with medications that are already used for asthma attacks, for example, however, if the symptoms get worse, it is very important to go to the hospital .
These cases are also very common, but usually affect people who have no history of lung disease.Symptoms include:
If left untreated, the lung infection can develop and spread into the bloodstream and reach other parts of the body.
It is the most severe type of infection that occurs when the fungus can multiply in the lungs and then spread into the bloodstream. Signs of this type of aspergillosis may include:
In addition, this fungus has the ability to penetrate blood vessels, spread more easily and promote vessel closure, resulting in thrombosis.
Invasive aspergillosis is the most common type when the immune system is very weak and therefore its symptoms can be difficult to identify because they can be interpreted as symptoms of the disease depending on the decrease in the body’s defenses.
Diagnosis of aspergillosis can be made by growing infected tissue, observing the sputum under the microscope, or performing blood tests with a serology that detects specific antibodies against this fungus.
Treatment of aspergillosis usually begins by taking antifungal medications, such as itraconazole or anfoterin B, that help remove excess fungi from the body, helping the immune system control infection and relieve symptoms.
However, your doctor may also advise the use of corticosteroids, such as budesonide or prednisone, to relieve symptoms more quickly and improve the effect of antifungals, especially in people with very severe symptoms, such as those with asthma, for example.
In the most severe cases, invasive aspergillosis, in which a mass of fungi may develop, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the most affected tissues and facilitate the effect of antifungals.