Respiratory diseases make human life inferior. He can’t work normally, relax and live in general. In addition, it is not so easy to get rid of them. Aspergillosis of the lungs is a rather serious and unpleasant disease, provoked by a fungal infection. Pathology appears due to an infectious organ lesion or an allergic adjustment of the respiratory system. The complexity of therapy is that it is difficult to get rid of the disease with the help of medications.
What is a disease?
Aspergillosis of the lungs is the primary lesion of the respiratory organs by mold. In patients who are diagnosed with a deficiency of immunity, it is the main cause of death. It should be noted that the causative agent of the presented pathology exists almost everywhere.
They stand out not only from the air and soil, but even from distilled water. The source of the harmful fungus is indoor house soil, old books, pillows, inhalers and humidifiers. In addition, he hides in the ventilation ducts, it can be picked up during the repair work.
The pathogen can get into the body very simply: just inhale its spores. At the first stage of infection, aspergillosis affects only the lungs. Further, it extends to the pleura and lymphatic system. Pathological microorganisms can spread through the blood through all organs and systems. Systemic fungal infection is considered the most dangerous complication of the presented disease.
It is impossible to accurately establish the incubation period of a pathology, since it occurs and develops differently in all people. However, over time, in the absence of the necessary treatment, the process becomes generalized, which in half the cases entails the death of the patient. In addition, pulmonary aspergillosis can cause serious complications. It’s more difficult to cope with them.
Features of the development of the disease
The presented pathology begins to develop in the human body after he inhales the pathogen, or aspergillus enter the body with food, through a wound. This occurs under the condition of severely weakened immunity.
Further, the fungus begins to develop, creating colonies. In addition, it multiplies not just on the surface of tissues, but can penetrate deep into the bronchi and lungs. The fungus can grow even into vessels in which granulomas form and inflammatory processes begin. This, in turn, provokes the appearance of bleeding, inflammation, in which tissue cells die, pneumothorax.
The reactions of tissues to the penetration of the fungus can be different: serous, purulent. In addition, the patient may form tuberculoid granulomas. If the patient has pulmonary aspergillosis, the course of the disease depends on many factors: the patient's age, his general condition, the presence of additional concomitant diseases, the correctness and effectiveness of the prescribed therapy.
A person does not always get sick with the presented pathology, but he can be its carrier. However, there is a risk group in which in patients immediately after infection colonization and invasion of aspergillus begins. A decrease in immunity is the main condition for the development of the disease. Therefore, you need to monitor your health.
What factors predispose to the appearance of pathology?
So, pulmonary aspergillosis can develop due to:
- Cytostatic chemical therapy. In this case, the body's defenses are practically destroyed, so the patient can easily pick up aspergillus. That is why cancer patients should be in strict isolation and sterile conditions.
- Decreased immunity due to chronic granulomatosis, aplastic anemia, and other oncological blood pathologies.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Reception of systemic corticosteroids. They are also capable of seriously disrupting the activity of body systems, as they cause a large number of different side effects.
- Frequent excessive drinking. Alcohol in general negatively affects the body, reducing its resistance to various infections.
- Permanent chronic lung pathologies.
- Operations on the respiratory system.
- Burns to the lungs.
- Tumor diseases.
- Decreased immunity against the background of HIV and AIDS.
- Long-term intensive use of antibiotics.
- Specific working conditions that are associated with the constant contact of a person with dust, fluff.
- Cystic fibrosis.
- Bronchial asthma.
- Ankylosing spondylitis.
- Smoking.
- Long stay in a hospital hospital.
- Hereditary predisposition to this disease. That is, the pathology itself is not transmitted at the genetic level, but weak immunity can be transmitted from parents to children.
As you can see, the infection can be caught anywhere, regardless of living conditions. The main risk factor in this case is weakened immunity.
Symptoms of the disease
Any infectious disease has its manifestations. For example, if a person develops pulmonary aspergillosis, the symptoms may be:
1. Allergic form:
- Increase in general body temperature.
- Coughing fits, sometimes accompanied by clots of mucus or blood.
- If previously the patient had bronchial asthma, then its course worsens.
2. Fungal mass. It is formed in lung cavities. This mass is a plexus of fungal mycelium, characterized by a dense structure. Such formations may appear due to tuberculosis (in advanced form), sarcoidosis, emphysema. If pulmonary aspergillosis is complicated by fungal masses, symptoms may be as follows:
- Attacks of cough with an admixture of blood.
- Very heavy breathing, which is accompanied by a whistle.
- Weight loss that cannot be explained.
- Fast fatiguability.
- Constant general weakness.
3. In case of systemic fungal infection, pathological microflora spreads to all organs through the blood. In this case, the pathology manifests itself in the following symptoms:
- Very high temperature - 40 degrees or more.
- Dyspnea.
- Intense pulmonary hemorrhage.
- Cough, which is accompanied by the release of blood.
- Pain in the chest.
- Nose bleed.
- Skin rash.
The presented pathology can extend not only to the lungs, but also to other respiratory organs. If at first the disease begins as a banal tracheobronchitis, then over time it progresses and becomes chronic.
Types of disease
Aspergillosis of the lungs (photos of affected organs, to put it mildly, are unpleasant, therefore we will not publish them) should be classified as follows:
- Exogenous alveolitis (allergic).
- Non-invasive form.
- Bronchopulmonary allergic aspergillosis.
- Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. It also has three forms of development: acute, subacute and chronic.
- Aspergillus endocarditis.
- Disseminated aspergillosis.
- Other forms of pathology.
Each of these types of diseases is very serious and has its own symptoms.
Pathology diagnostics
If there is a suspicion that the patient has pulmonary aspergillosis, the diagnosis should be comprehensive and thorough. It provides for the implementation of such studies:
- Clarification of the symptoms and complaints of the patient. The doctor should ask if the patient works in harmful work, in what conditions he lives. In addition, you should find out what other diseases are present in the patient (for example, diabetes), what is his condition of the nasopharynx. It is advisable to find out if the patient is taking any medications, how long he has been treated with any antibiotics.
- Sputum analysis for aspergillus.
- Serological examination.
- Blood chemistry.
- PCR method, which will determine the presence of metabolic products of aspergillus or their nucleic acids.
- Histological examination and biopsy of a fragment of lung tissue.
- X-ray of the respiratory system. If doctors suspect that the patient has pulmonary aspergillosis, x-ray is one of the main studies that can show changes in the lung tissue.
- Bronchoscopy, which makes it possible to obtain a flush for cultural and microbiological studies.
- CT or MRI.
If the doctor suggests that the patient has pulmonary aspergillosis, the diagnosis should be differential. It is necessary to distinguish the presented disease from tuberculosis, lung cancer, pneumonia or pulmonary hemorrhage.
Drug therapy for aspergillosis
If the patient is diagnosed with advanced pulmonary aspergillosis, the treatment will be combined: surgery in conjunction with medication. Among the latter can be identified:
- Multivitamin complexes. They help to saturate the body with the necessary vitamins, minerals and elements that favorably affect human immunity.
- Antifungal agents: Itraconazole, Voriconazole. The latter drug is relatively new and is considered more effective than Fluconazole. The medications presented are used to combat systemic fungal infection. For example, if the lesion extends to the upper respiratory tract, then the drug "Amphotericin B" in the form of inhalation can be used.
- Antimycotic and anti-inflammatory drugs of local action (if the skin is affected).
- Corticosteroids. They are used to suppress an allergic reaction, as well as prevent the deterioration of cystic fibrosis or asthma. It is best to take such medications by mouth.
Each drug of this type can cause a large number of side effects, so it is not recommended to take them on your own. If the patient is diagnosed with pulmonary aspergillosis, treatment of the disease with folk remedies or without consulting a doctor is undesirable. This can lead to a worsening of the condition, as well as the transition of the disease into a chronic form. And in this case it will be impossible to get rid of it.
The patient should be constantly monitored by specialists. In most cases, periodic monitoring of the state of the lungs with CT is performed. All therapy is carried out under the supervision of a therapist, ENT and a pulmonologist. Connection of other specialists is not excluded.
Aspergillosis of the lungs ( you already know the symptoms, treatment and causes of the development of pathology) is a rather complex disease, the duration of treatment of which may not be limited. The effect of therapy largely depends on other diseases that are present in the patient, the state of the body's defenses. Basically, the duration of therapy is from a week to a year.
Features of surgical treatment of pathology
Regardless of how exactly pulmonary aspergillosis is diagnosed, treatment is quite difficult and lengthy. It will not be possible to simply and quickly get rid of a fungal infection. Even chemical therapy and the use of strong antibacterial agents may not give a good effect. That is why today in most cases it is used surgical treatment.
The patient is offered a resection of organs affected by a fungal infection. If the surgery was performed by a competent doctor, then complications should not arise. Surgery is suggested if the patient has a risk of developing pulmonary hemorrhage.
If the patient develops pulmonary aspergillosis, surgical treatment is performed as follows: a catheter is inserted into the vessel that leads to the aspergilloma. A special material is injected through it into the cavity of the vessel, which clogs it. In this case, the bleeding stops. However, the disadvantage of such an operation is that bleeding can resume.
In addition, it can be eliminated by making a temporary ligation of the bronchial artery. If the focus is removed, then the affected areas must be scraped well. Surgical intervention is an extreme measure and is used only if the patient has severe hemoptysis, but lung function is still adequate.
The prognosis and complications of pathology
If the patient showed pulmonary aspergillosis, the prognosis may be different. It all depends on the neglect of pathology, human immunity, the presence of concomitant diseases. Most deaths are recorded in 20-35% of cases. If immunity is significantly reduced, as in people with HIV, then every second person dies.
When only ENT organs or mucous membranes are infected, the prognosis is more favorable. The septic form of pathology is very dangerous and in most cases leads to death. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the symptoms as soon as possible and make an accurate diagnosis. Then it will be possible to prescribe an adequate treatment.
As for the complications, they can be as follows:
- Destruction of the bones of the skull. This only happens if the infection has affected the sinuses. Moreover, with reduced immunity, a lethal outcome is not excluded.
- Heavy bleeding that can be life threatening. The fact is that the fungus can grow into vessels, damaging their walls. That is why massive bleeding can form. It can be extremely difficult to stop him. In the absence of assistance or its untimely provision, the patient may die from loss of blood or respiratory failure.
- The spread of systemic infection. This complication is the most dangerous. In this case, the fungus spreads through the blood vessels and blood throughout the body. Invasive aspergillosis can quickly lead to death if therapy was started late.
In any case, pulmonary aspergillosis (treatment with folk remedies will only accelerate the progression of pathology) is not a simple disease that can be easily dealt with. During therapy, it is necessary to be patient and try to avoid those factors that can aggravate the patient's condition: stress, nervous tension, physical exertion.
Folk remedies are better not to use on their own. Although their use in complex therapy is not excluded. For example, there are some herbs that can increase the body's supporting strength. However, their effectiveness in the treatment of the presented pathology has not been proven.
Pathology Prevention
If we are talking about such a serious and serious disease as pulmonary aspergillosis, prevention is the main way to protect against subsequent problems. Although it is impossible to completely avoid contact with factors provoking pathology, it is necessary to try to do this if a person has weak immunity.
Prevention is primary and secondary. The primary should be observed by those people who have a severe deficiency of immunity. That is, they should implement those measures that will help prevent the appearance of aspergillus in the air. For this, chambers providing laminar air flows can be used. In addition, special locks between rooms or strong filtration systems should be used.
Since the causative agent of aspergillosis can easily dwell in the soil, indoor use of indoor plants is prohibited. If the symptoms of the disease appear, then the patient must be isolated in another room, while checking the ventilation system and treating all surfaces with disinfectant solutions.
Secondary prevention involves the avoidance of any sources of fungal infection, mold, which include old buildings, moist forests, libraries with old books, granaries. It is also necessary to abandon all types of work on the ground, contact with animals. It is strictly forbidden to use products with an expired statute of limitations or covered with mold (cheese).
If a person’s immunity is too weak, the doctor may recommend the use of a protective mask. In some cases, a respirator may be needed. In any case, preventive measures, if strictly followed, will help to protect yourself from this dangerous and difficult to cure disease.
That's all the features of such a pathology as pulmonary aspergillosis. It must be remembered that this disease is very serious, so it is extremely important to try to protect yourself from it. Be healthy!