Aspergillosis Health Article

Definition

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.

There are several forms of aspergillosis:

• Pulmonary aspergillosis - allergic bronchopulmonary type -- is an allergic reaction to the fungus that develops in people who already had lung problems (such as asthma or cystic fibrosis).
• Aspergilloma -- is a growth (fungus ball) that develops in an area of previous lung disease (such as tuberculosis or lung abscess).
• Pulmonary aspergillosis - invasive type -- is a serious infection with pneumonia that spreads 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 events that lower the number of normal white blood cells.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on the actual type of infection. For symptoms of aspergillosis-related growth, see aspergilloma.

Symptoms of allergic aspergillosis may include:

• Cough
• Coughing up blood or brownish mucous plugs
• Fever
• Malaise (general ill feeling)
• Wheezing
• Weight loss
• Recurrent episodes of lung obstruction

Additional symptoms seen in invasive aspergillosis:

• Bone pain
• Blood in the urine
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Decreased urine output
• Endocarditis
• Headaches
• Increased sputum production, which may be bloody
• Meningitis
• Shortness of breath
• Sinusitis
• Vision problems

Signs and tests

Tests to diagnose Aspergillus infection include:

• Aspergillus antigen skin test
• Aspergillosis precipitin antibody
• Chest x-ray
• Complete blood count
• CT scan
• Galactomannan (a molecule from the fungus that is sometimes found in the blood)
• Sputum stain and culture for Aspergillus
• Tissue biopsy (see bronchoscopy with transtracheal biopsy)