Aspergillosis: Description
Aspergillosis is an infection with a particular mold of the genus Aspergillus. The Latin name translates as “the frond” – under the microscope the fungal spores look like a frond.
People can contract aspergillosis by inhaling the fungal spores. It often affects people whose immune system is weakened, for example, by certain diseases or medications. For healthy people, however, the fungus is rarely a threat.
Aspergillosis and its clinical pictures
Aspergillosis can cause various clinical pictures. Thus there are:
- Aspergilloma: Fungal colonization in an existing body cavity (such as sinuses or lungs) in the form of a larger, spherical structure consisting of fungal filaments, mucous gland secretions and dead cells (“fungus ball”). Especially in the case of a weakened immune system, the fungus can penetrate deeper into the tissue starting from the aspergilloma (invasive aspergillosis).
- other forms of invasive aspergillosis: Starting in the lungs, the fungus can also infect any other organ via the bloodstream, such as the heart, kidneys, liver, eyes, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and/or skin. Doctors then speak of a disseminated infestation.
Aspergillosis: Symptoms
The symptoms of aspergillosis depend primarily on which organ system is affected by the molds.
Possible symptoms of aspergillosis are:
- Inflammation of the bronchi (bronchitis) or lungs (pneumonia) with shortness of breath, rales when breathing, painful cough and brownish-purulent, rarely bloody sputum.
- Sinusitis with nasal discharge, pressure pain in the area of the sinuses, headaches
- Asthma attacks in allergic bronchial asthma
- Weakness of the cardiac output (power kink, shortness of breath)
- diarrhea and abdominal pain in gastrointestinal tract infections
- neurological disorders in case of central nervous system affection, meningitis
- fever
Aspergillosis: Causes and risk factors
Aspergillosis cannot be transmitted from person to person!
Risk factors for aspergillosis
Aspergillus fungi are very widespread. However, not every contact with the pathogen also leads to disease. The main risk factors for aspergillosis are therefore diseases associated with reduced resistance, for example HIV or AIDS.
Various autoimmune diseases and chronic lung conditions (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease = COPD, bronchial asthma) also make those affected more susceptible to the fungal infection. Healthy people with an intact immune system, on the other hand, extremely rarely contract aspergillosis.
Aspergillosis: Examinations and diagnosis
This is followed by various examinations:
- During the physical examination, the physician focuses on the organ system that is causing discomfort (e.g., listening to and tapping the lungs for coughing and shortness of breath).
- An X-ray examination or computer tomography (CT) of the affected body region can also be informative for the diagnosis.
- In some cases (e.g., suspected aspergilloma), it is useful to test the blood for antibodies against Aspergillus.
- Sample material from the patient (e.g., sputum, tissue samples – such as from the lungs) can be analyzed for the presence of Aspergillus fungal filaments.
Aspergillosis: Treatment
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is usually treated with corticosteroids (“cortisone”).
If an aspergilloma has formed (for example in the nasal sinus or lungs), treatment with medication is usually not sufficient. In this case, surgery is necessary to remove the “ball of fungus.”