Aspergillosis is an infection, growth, or allergic response due to the Aspergillus fungus.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Aspergillosis is caused by a fungus (Aspergillus), which is commonly found growing on dead leaves, stored grain, compost piles, or in other decaying vegetation. It can also be found on marijuana.
Although most people are frequently exposed to aspergillus, infections caused by the fungus rarely occur in people with a normal immune system. The rare infections caused by aspergillus include pneumonia and fungus ball (aspergilloma).
There are several forms of aspergillosis:
- Pulmonary aspergillosis - allergic bronchopulmonary type -- is an allergic reaction to the fungus that usually develops in people who already have lung problems (such as asthma or cystic fibrosis).
Aspergilloma -- is a growth (fungus ball) that develops in an area of previous lung disease or lung scarring (such as tuberculosis or lung abscess ).
- Pulmonary aspergillosis - invasive type -- is a serious infection with pneumonia that can spread to other parts of the body. This infection occurs almost exclusively in people with weakened immune systems due to cancer, AIDS, leukemia, organ transplantation, chemotherapy, or other conditions or medications that lower the number of normal white blood cells or weaken the immune system.
Symptoms depend on the type of infection. For symptoms of aspergillosis-related growth, see aspergilloma.
Symptoms of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis may include:
- Coughing up blood or brownish mucous plugs
- Generalized ill feeling (malaise)
- Weight loss
- Recurrent episodes of lung airway obstruction
Additional symptoms seen in invasive aspergillosis depend on the part of the body affected, and may include:
Signs and tests:
Tests to diagnose Aspergillus infection include:
A fungus ball is usually not treated (with antifungal medicines) unless there is bleeding into the lung tissue. In that case, surgery is required.
Invasive aspergillosis is treated with several weeks of an antifungal drug called voriconizole. It can be given orally or in an IV (directly into a vein). Amphotericin B, eichinocandins, or itraconazole can also be used.
Endocarditis caused by Aspergillus is treated by surgically removing the infected heart valves. Long-term amphotericin B therapy is also needed.
Antifungal drugs do not help people with allergic aspergillosis. Allergic aspergillosis is treated with immunosuppressive drugs -- most often prednisone taken by mouth.
People with allergic aspergillosis usually get better gradually, with treatment. It is common for the disease to come back (relapse) and need repeat treatment.
If invasive aspergillosis does not get better with drug treatment, it eventually leads to death. What happens to a person with invasive aspergillosis also depends on the underlying disease and immune system function.
- Amphotericin B can cause kidney impairment and unpleasant side effects such as fever and chills
- Bronchiectasis (permanent scarring of the small sacs in the lungs)
- Invasive lung disease can cause massive bleeding from the lung
- Mucous plugs
- Permanent airway obstruction
Calling your health care provider:
Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of aspergillosis or if you have a weakened immune system and develop a fever.
Be careful when using medications that suppress the immune system. Prevention of AIDS prevents certain diseases, including aspergillosis, that are associated with a damaged or weaken immune system.
Stevens DA. Aspergillosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 360.
Walsh TJ, Anaissie EJ, Denning DW, et al. Treatment of aspergillosis: clinical pratice guidelines of the Infections Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2008;46(3):327-60.
|Review Date: 2/23/2010|
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, David R. Eltz. David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital (5/30/2009).
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-
A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.