{"id":10160,"date":"2019-08-15T06:17:38","date_gmt":"2019-08-15T06:17:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=10160"},"modified":"2021-04-25T22:04:34","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T22:04:34","slug":"14-common-signs-of-aspergillus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-common-signs-of-aspergillus\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Signs of Aspergillus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Aspergillus mold is known as an opportunistic pathogen because it targets hosts that are especially vulnerable. Often, you\u2019ll find that opportunistic diseases manifest in the elderly or children. However, aspergillus has been known to infect adults from the age of 20-40 without a problem. So, what gives? Well, the mold actually targets hosts not based on age but on the basis of existing pulmonary conditions \u2014 which is simply a fancy term for lung diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those with tuberculosis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, and a variety of other pulmonary conditions are at a much higher risk for developing adverse reactions to aspergillus after being exposed to it. The spores of the mold can also trigger an allergic reaction for some people. Today we\u2019re going to take you through eight common signs of aspergillus exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Chest pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chest pain<\/a> is one of the most common symptoms that people will experience after being exposed to aspergillus. Patients with an existing condition such as tuberculosis or emphysema may have air cavities in their lungs that formed due to the disease. If this is the case, the aspergillus mold can invade these spaces in the lungs and form clusters known colloquially as fungus balls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These clusters may be asymptomatic at first, but if they remain untreated then various reactions could occur including chest pain. They can also accelerate the progression of the underlying condition if they aren\u2019t dealt with in due time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some patients with pulmonary conditions also suffer from other ailments that could cause chest pain making it difficult to detect a case of aspergillosis. In those situations, the easiest way to solve the mystery would be to keep a lookout for other symptoms on this list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Joint pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another symptom that you might notice is joint pain. While most cases of aspergillosis <\/a>originate in the respiratory system, it has a tendency to spread to other areas within your body. This can include your joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the aspergillus mold begins to infect your joints then your immune system will react by raising the temperature of the area. This inflammation will lead to joint pain. In fact, inflammation is the same mechanism that leads to the pain found in rheumatoid arthritis and a variety of other ailments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There have been some reports of CBD oil relieving the joint pain caused by aspergillosis due to the fact that the compound has natural anti-inflammatory properties \u2014 though there have been no studies verifying the claims. If you notice a sudden onset of joint pain in addition to some of the other signs on this list then you should get yourself checked for aspergillus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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

Headaches <\/a>might also manifest if you\u2019ve been exposed to aspergillus. As the mold spreads through your respiratory system, it will eventually make its way up to your sinuses. Most people think of the mold\u2019s path of destruction as making its way down towards the lungs and chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this isn\u2019t wrong, it\u2019s important to note that the spread-path of aspergillus mold goes both ways at once, also making its way up towards the head. Once the mold reaches the sinuses, you\u2019ll begin to notice various symptoms as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most prominent is a headache that doesn\u2019t go away even after you take the relevant medications. You might also experience facial pain, though the severity of this will vary from one person to the next. Reports of acute headaches are relatively rare in these cases and most get progressively worse over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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

Another sign that you might be suffering from an aspergillus infection is wheezing. This might sound strange at first, after all, how could a mold make you wheeze? Well, as the fungus <\/a>expands across your respiratory system it will start to partially obstruct the airflow. The buildup of fungal matter in your lungs, airways, and sinuses could lead to a wheezing sound whenever you breathe in or out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people actually wheeze naturally, but if you\u2019ve never noticed yourself making the sound up until recently then you should look into the cause. There are a few other things that could cause this sudden wheezing, but if it does turn out to be aspergillus then you\u2019ll be glad you got an early diagnosis making it easier to nip the issue at the bud. If it isn\u2019t aspergillus then you\u2019ll at least have peace of mind, still making the visit to your doctor well worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Shortness of breath<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the same vein<\/a>, you might also experience shortness of breath. This generally occurs after wheezing has already developed. As we mentioned earlier, the wheezing is due to the partial obstruction of airflow within your respiratory system. As this obstruction progresses, less air will be able to make its way to your lungs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will lead to shortness of breath when performing activities that aren\u2019t very strenuous. If you\u2019re generally fit when it comes to aerobic performance but find yourself struggling to get enough air in then you might be suffering from aspergillosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should be even more concerned if one of the risk factors \u2014 such as the pulmonary conditions we went over earlier \u2014 are present as this increases the odds that the issue is, in fact, a direct result of exposure to the aspergillus mold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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

Sticking to the reduced performance theme, we should cover another common sign that you\u2019ve been exposed to aspergillus and your body is reacting negatively: fatigue<\/a>. It can be hard to pinpoint the cause of fatigue as there are far too many factors that could influence it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, many of the pulmonary conditions that we listed as aspergillus risk factors can cause fatigue on their own. That being said, when aspergillus gets involved, the severity of the fatigue will likely be amplified overnight. The shift in severity is often pronounced enough for patients to notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some have mistaken it for the progression of their existing condition, but tuberculosis and other pulmonary conditions progress at a gradual pace and don\u2019t spike. If you notice your level of fatigue to suddenly increase in a short span of time then you should visit the doctor even if you suspect it may just be due to your existing condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Painful eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another sign of aspergillus infection could be long-term pain in your eyes. There\u2019s a pretty wide level of variance when it comes to the severity of the pain, and some doctors suspect the pre-existing ocular conditions could be a factor in this. As we mentioned earlier, aspergillus mold spreads both ways across your respiratory system<\/a> which is why it reaches your sinuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once there, it could cause pain in your eyes. It\u2019s important to distinguish between pain and strain as the two are very different \u2014 and each of the two has their own causes. When doctors say strain, it refers simply to the tiredness of the eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This could occur after typing up long documents or reading for an extended period of time. Pain, however, often has no obvious external cause \u2014 except in traumatic injuries \u2014 and could remain even after you rest your eyes from screentime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Coughing blood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The coughing up of blood \u2014 officially referred to as hemoptysis <\/a>\u2014 is something that many patients with pulmonary conditions deal with on a daily basis. It is especially prominent in tuberculosis patients and has thus become a characterizing symptom of the disease. However, aspergillus mold can worsen this symptom if it makes its way to the lungs. There are various ways in which the mold can impact it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, the severity of the coughing will remain constant but the frequency will increase after being exposed to the aspergillus mold. The inverse could also be true in other cases with the frequency of the cough not changing but the severity being dramatically increased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice any changes in the nature of these bloody coughs then you should see your doctor immediately to get to the bottom of the issue and treat it accordingly. Early treatment is essential for the best outcome.
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