Aspergillus (fungal)

Your Path

  • Aspergillus (fungal)

Sites

  • Sinuses
  • Skin
  • Other
  • Lungs→ can be tissue invasive or chronic (e.g. fungal ball)

Etiology

  • Fungus

Risk Factors

  • Immunocompromised host and/or w/structural lung dz→ e.g. bronchiectasis
  • Can be tissue invasive or chronic (e.g. fungal ball)

Symptoms

  • Cough
  • Sob
  • Wt loss
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue
  • Can be indolent or acute
  • Hemoptysis, which can be massive
  • Facial fullness/pain
  • Nasal d/c→ invasive sinusitis in patients w/DM or otherwise compromised
  • Recurrent wheezing in normal hosts→ ABPA

Physical Exam Findings

  • Fever
  • If sinuses involved: facial pain, nasal d/c; severe involvement w/erythema, necrosis of palate
  • If lungs involved: rales, ronchi, wheezing, altered breath sounds or other findings of parenchymal involvement

Links