4. Hemoptysis
Hemoptysis, sounds complicated, right? Well, it’s actually just a fancy word used by doctors to describe the coughing up of blood. Not everyone who is exposed to aspergillus will experience this symptom as it is dependent on the pre-existence of specific conditions.
There are some lung conditions — all chronic — like tuberculosis, emphysema, advanced sarcoidosis, and a few others that could lead to the formation of air cavities with the patient’s lungs. When anyone with cavities in their lungs becomes infected by the aspergillus mold, fungus fibers could get to the cavities.
Once there, they will begin to grow in a tangled form into large masses. These masses are medically referred to as aspergillomas but more colloquially known as fungus balls. Some aspergillomas are entirely asymptomatic while others only lead to a mild cough. However, if they remain untreated for a long period of time then they could hasten the progression of the pre-existing lung condition.