Aspergillosis is a disease caused by a fungus — a mould — called Aspergillus. The mould is very common indoors and outdoors, and most people breathe in its spores every day without harm. But some people get sick.
Who is at risk
It usually affects people with lung diseases or weakened immune systems.
Kinds of aspergillosis
| Kind | What happens | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) | wheezing and coughing | can affect healthy people, but most common in people with asthma or cystic fibrosis |
| Invasive aspergillosis | damages body tissue, usually in the lungs; sometimes infects other organs and spreads through the body | people with immune-system problems — for example after a transplant, on high-dose steroids, or having chemotherapy for some cancers |
Diagnosis
A doctor may use a chest X-ray, a CT scan of the lungs, and an examination of tissue for signs of the fungus.
Treatment
Antifungal drugs treat aspergillosis. People with ABPA may also take steroids.
Sources
- "Aspergillosis," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, drawing on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://medlineplus.gov/aspergillosis.html
- Rewritten in hubnx's own words.
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Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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