Aspergillosis Causes, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

Aspergillosis is a direct reaction to the Aspergillus Fungus, whether there is an infection or an allergic reaction. This problematic fungus usually grows on dead leaves and any decaying vegetation.

However, direct exposure to the fungus wouldn’t necessarily reflect on being infected, as a matter of fact, you may encounter the fungus on your daily routine and would never contract the disease. The fungus tends to be more efficient attacking people with a weaker immune system or lung diseases.

There are many types of Aspergillosis which affect the body in many different ways. Your risk of developing any type of the disease is linked to certain conditions and even certain medications. And each type of the disease presents different symptoms and complications.

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis also knew as ABPA, the fungus can cause coughing and wheezing. You will be more prone to this disease if you have pre-existing lung conditions like cystic fibrosis or asthma. ABPA is also known for causing breathing shortness, and a general feeling of unwellness in our bodies.

If your immune system happens to be compromised for some reason, like chemotherapy, leukemia, cancer, or AIDS, then you’ll most like be a victim of Invasive Aspergillosis, which can be very difficult for your already compromised system to fight off. This type of aspergillosis is so invasive that it can quickly take over your brain and kidneys, and if it remains untreated then it can turn into an infectious pneumonia.

Some types of Aspergillosis can be treated with anti-fungal medications, whether they are taken orally or intravenous like voriconazole it can be very effective against the most invasive types of aspergillosis.

However, if the fungus has spread to your body and more specifically infected your heart valves, then you will need to have surgery done, quickly, to remove the infected areas, and even after the surgery, you’ll still need to be submitted to extensive antifungal treatments for a certain period of time. The recovering time from an invasive type of aspergillosis will always depend on your overall state of health and the strength of your immune system.

The allergic types of aspergillosis will normally heal with just following the treatment rigorously, however, if you don’t find the source of the fungus, you will contract the disease again.

Regardless of the type of aspergillosis, you have contracted, lack of treatment will lead to airways being blocked, failure to breath properly, damage to our kidneys, and bleeding in the lungs.