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 General Lung Disease

Pulmonary aspergillosis - invasive

Pulmonary aspergillosis - invasive

Pulmonary aspergillosis
Pulmonary aspergillosis
Aspergillosis - chest X-ray
Aspergillosis - chest X-ray
Fungus
Fungus

Definition:

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is an infection of the lungs caused by a fungus.

See also: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Alternative Names:
Aspergillosis - acute invasive
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Aspergillosis is caused by the fungus aspergillus, which is commonly found in nature but only rarely causes illness in people.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is the most serious type of aspergillosis infection. It can affect any organ, particularly the heart, lungs, brain, and kidneys.

People with a weakened immune system (for example, from chemotherapy or HIV) are most likely to develop this kind of infection.

The most common type of immune system problem that causes this infection is a very low white blood cell count over a long period. People who have had chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant sometimes have this type of problem.

Symptoms:
  • Chest pain
  • Cough
  • Fever
  • Joint pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Unintentional weight loss
Signs and tests:

Listening to the chest with a stethoscope (auscultation) may reveal crackles or a sound made by the inflamed lining of the lung rubbing against the lung (pleural friction rub).

Tests may include:


Review Date: 11/12/2007
Reviewed By: Andrew Schriber, M.D., F.C.C.P., Specialist in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mount Holly, New Jersey. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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