Aspergillosis is actually an infection which is originated by a type of mold. Aspergillosis results in an illness that infects the respiratory system, but their severity differs hugely. Many strains of such mold are innocuous, but some strains can create grave illnesses when people having asthma, or weakened immune systems or suffer from lung disease, gasp their spores. In few people, these spores generate into an allergic reaction, whereas others might grow mild to serious kind of lung infections.

Fungal Aspergilloma (Mount Sinai)

When the infection spreads out to blood vessels and beyond, it is known to be the serious form of aspergillosis named invasive aspergillosis. As per the types of aspergillosis, the patient will be given treatment by the doctor which may include observation, antifungal medication, and in rarest of cases, it may lead to surgery.

About Aspergillosis:

Aspergillosis is basically a kind of fungus, a common mold which is found in outdoors and indoors but is invisible to eyes. It is a fungal growth or an infection which is caused by Aspergillus fungus. This fungus breeds on the decayed vegetation, stored grain, compost piles, and dead leaves, and as it is exposed in the air, the fungi will harm people of any age group. Every single day people unknowingly breathe Aspergillus spores, yet don’t fall sick. Only those who have a weak immune system or lung problem, can get infected by the Aspergillus fungus and face serious health problems.

A person, when breaths fungus, can cause Aspergillosis (mountnittany.org)

Types of Aspergillosis:

  • Allergic Aspergillosis sinusitis. Inflammation is caused by Aspergillus in the sinuses and hence its symptoms from a sinus infection are headache, stuffiness, and drainage.
  • Also known as a fungus ball, Aspergillus ball develops in the sinuses or lungs, but generally, it doesn’t binge to the distinct parts of the body.
  • Invasive Aspergillosis. People with a weak immune system tend to affect by this serious infection, especially who have a stem cell transplant or an organ transplant. Usually, this affects their lungs but can hit other parts of the body too.
  • Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. This condition continues for 3 long months or so where Aspergillus (one or more fungal balls) can produce cavities in the person’s lungs.
  • Cutaneous aspergillosis. Aspergillus gets into the person’s body of a weaker immune system, after a burn wound or after surgery in the skin. Such aspergillosis can also happen in case invasive aspergillosis spreads out in the skin from other parts of the body, such as from the lungs.
  • Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis [ABA]. In this condition, aspergillus triggers inflammation in the lungs and also allergy symptoms such as wheezing and coughing, but doesn’t bring infection.

    Lungs get affected by Aspergillosis disease (Medindia)

Symptoms of Aspergillosis:

  1. Allergic reaction

Few people having cystic fibrosis or asthma tend to have an allergic reaction towards Aspergillus. Its signs and symptoms, known to be allergic bronchopulmonary, cover:

  • Cough which will expel blood or mucus plugs.
  • Fever.
  • Degraded asthma.
  1. Invasive Aspergillosis

This happens when a fungal infection spreads out quickly from the lungs to the person’s brain, skin, heart, or kidneys, which is a serious kind of aspergillosis. Those people who have poor immune system suffer from invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, because of bone marrow transplantation, cancer chemotherapy, or any of the immune system disease. Such form of aspergillosis might be incurable. Symptoms and signs rely on which organ of the person is affected, but overall the cause of invasive aspergillosis include:

  • Breath shortness.
  • Joint or chest pain.
  • Fever.
  • Skin lesions.
  • Eye symptoms or headache.
  • Cough that expels blood [hemoptysis].
  1. Aspergilloma

Chronic lung problems like tuberculosis, emphysema, or advanced sarcoidosis can erect air spaces that can be formed in the lungs. When a person with lung cavities gets infected along with Aspergillus, then the fungus fiber may search their ways in the cavities and develop in the tangled fungus balls known to be aspergillomas. It may generate a mild cough or no symptoms in the start. If the person doesn’t go for treatment, then the aspergillomas can deteriorate the ongoing chronic lung condition and can hence cause symptoms like:

  • Fatigue.
  • Wheezing.
  • Breath shortage.
  • Unintended weight loss.
  • Cough which expels blood.
  1. Other Forms of Aspergillosis

Apart from a person’s lungs, Aspergillus can attack other areas of their body, like their sinuses where the fungus can produce a stale nose followed by drainage which may comprise of blood. One can also face facial pain, headache, and fever.



Proper Treatment:

  • Medication: The patient can be given antifungal medication. If they have allergic aspergillosis, they can receive medication like prednisone with antifungal drugs which suppresses their immune system. Invasive aspergillosis can be treated with intravenous or oral drugs like voriconazole.

    Aspergillosis can be treated with oral drugs (Diseasemaps)

  • Surgery: In case the aspergillosis fungus causes a serious infection of a person’s heart valves, then the doctor needs to execute surgery for the removal of infectious portions. After it is done, they will obtain antifungal treatment for a longer time.

Well, aspergillosis disease is not contagious; it can be treated under proper medications! If you face any of the above symptoms or weakness in the body, it’s better to quickly consult a doctor who can provide proper medication to get over aspergillus!




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Sanghamitra Roychoudhary
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