February 1, World Aspergillosis Day

• Aspergillosis, lung and sinus disease caused by the fungus Aspergillus, affects around 15 million people and kills over 1 million each year.  
• The fifth World Aspergillosis Day (WAD 2021) the theme is ‘Shortening the Patient Journey’
• The aim of World Aspergillosis Day is to raise awareness of this fungal infection that like several other fungal infections worldwide is often under-diagnosed.
•  Diagnosis of aspergillosis is difficult and requires specialist expertise, but it also frequently occurs alongside much more common illnesses such as asthma, tuberculosis, COPD. 
• Fungal nodules occasionally get mistaken for lung tumors.
• Impact of aspergillosis, acute invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, makes on COVID patients. COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) occurs in patients in critical care, and more than doubles mortality.
•  Aspergillosis is the hidden killer but this time COVID-19 will often be recorded as the main cause of death.

Types of aspergillosis

• Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA): Occurs when Aspergillus causes inflammation in the lungs and allergy symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, but doesn’t cause an infection.

• Allergic Aspergillus sinusitis: Occurs when Aspergillus causes inflammation in the sinuses and symptoms of a sinus infection (drainage, stuffiness, headache) but doesn’t cause an infection.

• Azole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus: Occurs when one species of Aspergillus, A. fumigatus, becomes resistant to certain medicines used to treat it. Patients with resistant infections might not get better with treatment.

• Aspergilloma: Occurs when a ball of Aspergillus grows in the lungs or sinuses, but usually does not spread to other parts of the body. Aspergilloma is also called a “fungus ball.”

• Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: Occurs when Aspergillus infection causes cavities in the lungs, and can be a long-term (3 months or more) condition. One or more fungal balls (aspergillomas) may also be present in the lungs.

• Invasive aspergillosis: Occurs when Aspergillus causes a serious infection, and usually affects people who have weakened immune systems, such as people who have had an organ transplant or a stem cell transplant. Invasive aspergillosis most commonly affects the lungs, but it can also spread to other parts of the body.

• Cutaneous (skin) aspergillosis: Occurs when Aspergillus enters the body through a break in the skin (for example, after surgery or a burn wound) and causes infection, usually in people who have weakened immune systems. Cutaneous aspergillosis can also occur if invasive aspergillosis spreads to the skin from somewhere else in the body, such as the lungs.

On this World Aspergillosis Day spread awareness and keep your environments Aspergillus free. Spread information and also ensure that the hospitals are Aspergillus free.