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Cures for Aspergillus

Aspergillus is a type of fungus that can cause the respiratory disease Aspergillosis in both humans and animals. There are several types of Aspergillosis, with the reactions ranging from mild allergy to life-threatening. Aspergillosis commonly affects individuals who have a lowered white blood cell count, like HIV or AIDS. As a result, there are many different types of treatments and cures for Aspergillosis, depending on the form of infection.

  1. Combination Anti-fungal Drugs

    • The most common type of Aspergillosis uses anti-fungal drugs as treatment. Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis is a mild form of Aspergillosis. Its primary symptoms are similar to asthma, with the patient suffering from a shortness of breath and extended coughing episodes. Treatments for Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis typically involve steroids and Itraconazole or Amphotericin B (anti-fungal drugs) to reduce the amount of steroids needed.

    Sinus Drains

    • Sometimes anti-fungal drugs are not sufficient, as can be the case with Aspergillus Sinusitis. Aspergillus Sinusitis can be particularly painful to the patient if it leads to an ear infection. If the fungus progression is not too far into the sinuses, physicians can normally cure the problem by draining the sinus or, if necessary, scraping the ear of the fungus and applying anti-fungal medication. However, surgery may be necessary to remove the Aspergillus if the fungus enters deep into the skull making draining and scraping impossible.

    Anti-Fungal Lung Application

    • The most serious type of Aspergillus is lung infection, but the cure is still fairly similar to other types of infection. Aspergilloma is a condition when the fungus grows directly within the lung cavity. This commonly occurs in individuals recently afflicted with serious lung conditions like tuberculosis. Surgery is normally not a viable option for Aspergilloma, unless it is only infecting one lung cavity--and only when it is most serious such as the coughing up of blood. The preferred option for dealing with Aspergilloma is the application of Itraconazole or Amphotericin B, directly into the lungs through a tube.

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