Aspergilloma or mycetoma or commonly known as fungus ball is a type of infection caused by fungus (mold). Usually fungi belonging to the genus Aspergillus are the causative agents however fungi of other genus namely Zygomycota and Fusarium may also lead to similar type of infection.
Aspergillosis mainly affects the respiratory system however other systems may also be affected leading to various type of presenting symptoms which vary in severity from person to person even in the same person at different points of time.
In some of the affected people aspergillosis may precipitate an allergic reaction characterized by fever, cough, deterioration of already present asthma symptoms etc whereas in some exposure to the offending fungal spore may lead to mild to severe lung infection. The most dreaded complication of aspergillosis is invasive aspergillosis, where the infection reaches the general blood circulation leading to spread of infection to various vital organs of the body namely brain, heart and kidneys.
The spores of the offending mole Aspergillus are present in the environment in large amount both outside and within household; hence people usually come in contact with spores regularly. But it is seen that only in some such exposure may lead to serious infection (aspergillosis); mainly those with suppressed immune function are usually affected.
The treatment options available for aspergillosis include observation without any intervention, administration of drugs like corticosteroids, antifungal drugs etc and surgical intervention. Depending of the type and severity of the disease treatment is done.
Symptoms and complications
The symptoms of aspergillosis depend upon type of infection as well as extent of spread of the disease. These are
1. In most of the cases during initial stage no symptom arises however gradually with progression various symptoms become evident. In these patients usually there is occasional attack of cough which may have blood in it, difficulty in breathing with noisy respiration (wheezing), sudden unwanted weight loss, persistent fever, increased tiredness etc.
2. Allergic reaction also known as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: allergic reaction occurs in people suffering from asthma or congenital disease, cystic fibrosis. Common presenting symptoms of allergic reaction include fever, cough with blood or mucous plugs etc. In people with history of asthma there is worsening of the symptoms of asthma.
3. Fungal ball: sometimes clump of the mold may accumulate in the cavities of the lungs leading to chronic pulmonary aspergillosis or simple aspergilloma. Usually people with history of lung diseases like emphysema, tuberculosis, advanced stage of sarcoidosis etc are at increased risk of having fungal balls.
4. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: in this severe case of aspergilloma infection, there is spread of infection from the lungs through the general blood circulation to various organs of the body namely brain, heart, kidneys and skin. This life threatening variety of aspergilloma usually affects people with compromised immune function like people having cancer chemotherapy, suffering from HIV, people taking corticosteroids for long term etc. Usually symptoms of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis depend upon the affected organ however most common symptoms include high fever with chill, large amount of blood loss from the lungs as manifested by bloody cough (hemoptysis), difficulty in breathing, pain in the chest, joints, head (headache and several eye symptoms, nasal bleeding, selling of face on one side, characteristic lesions over the skin etc.
Other than the lung cavities other body cavities like the paranasal sinuses (the air filled spaces located around the nasal cavity may also be affected resulting into exaggerated respiratory symptoms along with nasal stuffiness, pain in the face, head etc.Other than invasive pulmonary aspergillosis another dreaded complication of aspergillosis is sudden onset excessive blood loss in the lungs.