Fungal Infection in Lungs

Aspergillosis, more commonly referred to as fungal infection, is a health condition caused due to invasion of certain types of fungus in the lungs. A person with weak immune system contracts this fungal lung disease upon inhaling some of the fungi, belonging to the genus Aspergillus, while breathing. Mild fungal infection in lungs can go on to become a life-threatening condition referred to as invasive aspergillosis, characterized by the spread of infection to blood vessels, and eventually to the other organs.

Aspergillosis: An Overview

Causes
The fungi that can cause this lung fungus infection is basically unavoidable as it is present everywhere, even in our food. When these fungi enters our body, the immune system ensures that they are destroyed even before they start causing any damage to the body. In some people, however, the immune system is compromised due to some underlying health condition, and that makes them vulnerable to this fungal infection in the lungs. The fungus enters the body and keeps growing by deriving nourishment from the body itself.

Symptoms
The presence of fungus in the lungs need not necessarily show any physical symptoms, especially if the infection is mild. In many cases, only radiography (X-ray) can help in determining the presence of fungus ball in lungs. As the infection becomes more severe, the symptoms slowly start showing up. These may include severe coughing, chest pain, fever, difficulty in breathing, etc. When the infection spreads to blood vessels, the person suffering from it experiences severe coughing, and in some cases, even tends to vomit blood. If this lung infection is not subjected to proper treatment promptly, it can spread to other organs of the body. In such a case, the patient also experiences more severe symptoms, ranging from shock and/or delirium to kidney failure and/or liver failure, eventually resulting in death.

Diagnosis
Diagnosis of fungal infection in lungs involves X-ray or a CT scan of the lungs to determine the presence of fungal ball. If the presence of fungal infection is determined, the doctor may even recommend a biopsy. A bronchoscope or a rhinoscope is used to obtain the fungus present in the lungs, which is later subjected to lab analysis for further examination. Other than this, the above mentioned symptoms may also prove to be helpful in determining whether the person is affected by aspergillosis.

Treatment
If any of the above mentioned signs are observed, one has to initiate proper treatment for the same. Most often, antifungal medications are used in treatment of Aspergillosis. However, one has to be careful when using these medications, as they have high probability of interfering with other medications and further complicating the issue. In case of internal bleeding, or if a fungal ball is caused in the lungs, antifungal medications are of no use as they can't penetrate this ball. In such a case, the patient may have to undergo embolization, to prevent bleeding, or surgery to remove the fungus ball. In case of allergic aspergillosis, oral corticosteroids are known to be effective in curbing this infection.

Although it's nearly impossible to avoid coming in contact with the fungi which can lead to this infection in lungs, you can take some precautionary measures to avoid it. Studies reveal that the immune system of a person weakens when he is suffering from any disease, which makes him more vulnerable to various types of infections. If you are suffering from any such disease which is known to weaken the immune system, you should wear a mask to keep various infectious diseases at bay. Maintaining a healthy diet also ensures that you have a healthy immune system, capable of fighting fungal infections in any part of the body.