{"id":10033,"date":"2019-08-14T07:17:18","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T07:17:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=10033"},"modified":"2021-04-25T20:38:32","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T20:38:32","slug":"16-general-causes-of-aspergillus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/16-general-causes-of-aspergillus\/","title":{"rendered":"16 General Causes of Aspergillus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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There are many things that could cause infections of aspergillus. After all, when you\u2019re dealing with a mold that is nearly omnipresent and can invade most areas of the body, it would probably be faster to list things that don\u2019t cause it. That being said, there is one upside \u2014 aspergillosis isn\u2019t contagious through person-person interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is great news for the human race as it ensures that outbreaks won\u2019t occur anytime soon \u2014 unless the mold evolves to be transmissible through fomites, but let\u2019s just hope it doesn\u2019t. Aspergillus is pretty much everywhere, whether indoors or outdoors, and has various ways of getting into your body. Depending on which form of aspergillosis is present, treatment options may include surgery or antifungal medications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Mold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most common way that people get infected with aspergillus is through direct exposure to its mold form. You might think that the easiest way to avoid such an occurrence is by keeping your distance from the mold. That being said, it\u2019s present wherever you go. Whether you\u2019re staying home, on your way to the bus stop, or taking your dog for a walk through the park, aspergillus <\/a>is there watching you, just waiting for an opportunity to make its way into your body.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Short of wearing a hazmat suit, it\u2019s pretty much impossible to avoid exposure to aspergillus mold. Common spots to find it outdoors include plants, dead leaves, compost, grain crops, trees, and pretty much any other area you could think of, to be honest. Even when no plant matter is present the mold could still be lurking around the corner. In this case, avoidance isn\u2019t a viable strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Spores<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even if you try and stay away from the mold itself, the spores will still get you. They are airborne and thus can make their way into your respiratory tract whenever you take a breath. You might be wondering why people are still relatively fine despite the constant threat of aspergillus mold and spores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, you\u2019ll be glad to know that most people won\u2019t have any problems even if they are exposed to aspergillus provided that they have a healthy immune system.<\/a> Aspergillus is an opportunistic pathogen meaning it will target hosts that have pre-existing conditions and are thus an easier mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think of it as a scammer looking for someone who is gullible to ensure a high success rate. Those who are immunocompromised could be at high risk for developing adverse reactions after being exposed to aspergillus mold and spores \u2014 and thus should be on high alert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Emphysema<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many lung conditions that could make one more vulnerable to aspergillus, and one of them is emphysema<\/a>. The disease known as emphysema affects the air sacs and makes it difficult for your body to get enough oxygen. It can also lead to the formation of air cavities within your lungs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aspergillus absolutely loves these cavities and will try to claim it as a home. Once there, the mold will begin to grow into clumps of fungal matter. These are colloquially known as fungus balls but the official term for them is aspergillomas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are often in a tangled formation making them particularly damaging to your respiratory system. In fact, they can even amplify the effects of emphysema and hasten its progress. Emphysema patients with fungus balls will often have no symptoms from the aspergillus until the fungus matter reaches a point where it partially obstructs the airflow to your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Tuberculosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another lung disease that could lead to the formation of air cavities within your lungs is tuberculosis <\/a>\u2014 often abbreviated as TB. Aspergillus can\u2019t distinguish between air cavities formed by tuberculosis and those caused by emphysema and thus will gladly call either one home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much like in cases of emphysema, tuberculosis may also progress at a faster pace if aspergillomas are present and remain untreated for an extended period of time. It\u2019s essential that these fungus balls are taken care of as soon as possible so that the underlying condition doesn\u2019t worsen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The easiest way to detect aspergillus in tuberculosis patients is by watching for shifts in the severity of their coughing as well as in the level of fatigue they experience. If they start coughing more violently or become more fatigued than usual overnight then it may be due to aspergillus infecting the lungs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Advanced sarcoidosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sarcoidosis <\/a>is an inflammatory disease that negatively impacts various organs within your body, though its primary target is often your lungs. The lymph glands are also commonly affected in cases of sarcoidosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeing as sarcoidosis has a tendency to spread to different regions of your body, the symptoms it presents can vary greatly from case to case depending on the spread-path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it reaches the brain then seizures and meningitis could occur while enlarged livers and kidney stones could also occur in other patients. As if its wide reach and adverse effects weren\u2019t enough, it can also make you more vulnerable to aspergillus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One form of the disease known as type IV sarcoidosis is especially dangerous with regard to aspergillus as most patients with it tend to develop aspergillosis at some point or another. If you have type IV sarcoidosis or any other variant then you could be at a higher risk for aspergillosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Asthma<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Those with asthma <\/a>are also at a high risk of being adversely affected by aspergillus mold due to the fact that their respiratory system is already compromised by the condition. The primary risk that aspergillus poses to asthma patients comes in the form of allergic reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you may already know, asthma occurs when the body is paranoid and triggers an allergic response \u2014 in the form of a narrowing throat \u2014 whenever a specific but harmless substance enters the airways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to this heightened immune response in asthma patients, they are likely to notice severe and constant attacks if they are exposed to aspergillus. If normal methods of treating asthma fail and the attacks are still worsening then the patient should be admitted to the closest hospital so that they can verify if aspergillus is, in fact, the root cause of the series of attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Cystic fibrosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cystic fibrosis<\/a> is a hereditary disease meaning it is passed on genetically. Patients with cystic fibrosis suffer from the overproduction of sticky mucus that blocks their lungs and makes it difficult for them to breathe. Aspergillus mold can increase the severity of their symptoms as the fungal matter may attach itself to the sticky mucus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, clumps of fungal matter even become lodged in the sticky mucus \u2014 itself attached to the lungs of the patient. This makes it very difficult for the patient to breathe and can cause various other symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sticky mucus in the respiratory tract of cystic fibrosis patients combined with their weakened immune system makes them a perfect target for aspergillus mold and spores. This is why some patients with cystic fibrosis have chosen to stay in hermetically sealed environments to reduce their odds of coming into contact with the mold or its spores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Corticosteroid therapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Corticosteroids <\/a>are medicines that doctors use to treat inflammation in various regions of a patient\u2019s body. It can help with various symptoms such as itching, redness, and swelling. It is also useful when it comes to the treatment of allergic reactions to ensure that anaphylaxis doesn\u2019t occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They can be used to treat various diseases such as arthritis, asthma, and eczema. While they are certainly useful in the treatment of the aforementioned conditions, the long-term use of them can increase your odds of developing aspergillosis along with other infections of a similar nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, the underlying condition being treated can impact the likelihood of you developing aspergillosis. Other drugs being used in conjunction with the corticosteroids will also be a factor. As a rule of thumb, you should take note of any aspergillosis symptoms if you\u2019re undergoing treatment with corticosteroids as it leaves you at a higher risk of being adversely affected by the mold.
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