What is aspergillus?

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What is aspergillus?

Royal Gazette - Bermuda

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What is aspergillus?

A group of moulds, its spores (tiny cells) are present all the time

in the air around us. It can be found growing on damp walls or in

mildew.

Most people are not affected at all, are naturally immune and never

develop a disease caused by it. Only a few of the moulds can cause

illness in humans and animals.

How does it affect people?

Under certain circumstances, the fungus can cause humans problems –

and in some cases even kill. When the disease does occur it takes

various forms. These are varied and range from an allergy-type

illness to life-threatening infections. Diseases caused by

aspergillus are called aspergillosis. The most crucial factor in the

severity of aspergillosis is the state of the immune system of the

person involved. Symptoms include fever, cough, chest pain or

breathlessness, which also occur in many other illnesses so

diagnosis can prove hard.

How does aspergillus spread in damp buildings?

Where damp goes untreated there is a danger of aspergillus thriving.

People in damp properties may develop strong allergies to the fungus

and suffer a whole range of symptoms. When the problem lies in an

office block or school, dangers multiply. There is little legal

protection for people suffering fungal reactions and they may have

no insurance cover for loss of livelihood.

What are the different diseases?

1) Allergic aspergillosis.

A condition that produces an allergy to the spores of the

aspergillus moulds. Common in asthmatics; up to five per cent of

adult asthmatics might get this at some time during their lives.

Symptoms are similar to those of asthma: intermittent episodes of

feeling unwell, coughing and wheezing. Some patients cough up brown-

coloured plugs of mucus.

The diagnosis can be made by X-ray or by blood tests. If untreated,

in the long term allergic aspergillosis can lead to permanent lung

damage. Treatment is with steroids.

2) Aspergilloma and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.

Also caused by the aspergillus mould. The fungus grows within a

cavity of the lung, which was previously damaged during an illness

such as tuberculosis or sarcoidosis.

Any lung disease which causes cavities can leave a person open to

developing an aspergilloma. The spores penetrate the cavity and form

a fungal ball within the cavity. The fungus secretes toxic and

allergic products, which may make the person feel ill.

The person affected may have no symptoms, especially early on.

Weight loss, chronic cough, feeling rundown and tired are common

symptoms later. Coughing of blood can occur in up to 80 per cent of

affected people. Diagnosis is through X-rays and scans of lungs and

blood tests. Treatment depends on symptoms but may include surgery

or anti-fungal drugs.

3) Aspergillus sinusitis.

This can happen in the sinuses. When patients have damaged immune

systems – for example if they have had leukaemia or have had a bone

marrow transplant – aspergillus sinusitis is serious.

In these cases the sinusitis is a form of invasive aspergillosis.

The symptoms include fever, facial pain, nasal discharge and

headaches. Surgery is done in most cases and treatment with powerful

antifungal medicines is essential.

4) Invasive aspergillosis

Many people with damaged or impaired immune systems, such as those

who have had bone marrow transplants or cancer treatment, die from

invasive aspergillosis. Their chances of living are improved the

earlier the diagnosis is made but unfortunately there is no good

single diagnostic test. Often treatment has to be started when the

condition is only suspected. People with invasive aspergillosis

usually have a fever and symptoms from the lungs (cough, chest pain

or discomfort or breathlessness) which do not respond to standard

antibiotics.

How can fungal infestations be prevented in air conditioning and

heating systems?

Through safety-tested filters which are frequently checked and

changed.

@EDITRULE:

From: the Aspergillus for Patients and Aspergillus Trust websites.