anyone know anything about allergic bronchial pulmonary aspergillosis?

[imaginaryfriend]

I've no idea how common it is. But I've been diagnosed as having it today. I've had pneumonia twice in the last year, am an asthmatic (since early childhood, quite severely) and since January have been feeling intermittently fluey, wheezy and coughing up alien-like substances.

The chest clinic consultant did a CT scan of my lungs and a blood test for allergy to aspergillis. The scan showed inflammation in my lungs and the blood test was positive so he wants me to take long-term steroids orally (I already have strong steroid inhalers for asthma).

I'm just digesting all this really and wondered if anybody had any experience of it? I'm posting way too late and have to go to bed now but will check in the morning.

I know a little about aspergillis because my son has CF although (touch wood) does not have asspergillis.

It is a type of mould spore which will account for the odd sputum you've been producing.

It can cause a lot of problems in people with cystic fibrosis but I admit I know little about how easy it is to get rid of for non CF people. Much easier I would imagine! I expect your lungs have become a target for these spores because of the problems caused by the pneumonia/asthma. People will normal healthy lung tissue would not generally be at risk.

Sorry to not be much help.

Have you been prescribed anything to nebulise as well as the steriods?

No I haven't. I have Symbocort (probably spelt wrongly) inhaler which is a long-term broncho-dilator plus reasonably strong steroid. The consultant said that wasn't enough to counter the aspergillosis so I have to take oral steroids too.

I do get nebulised of course when I have an asthma attack. But not otherwise.

bump

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bump?

Hi IF.My main knowledge of aspergillus is from caring for haematology patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy.They are very at risk of acquiring infections be they bacterial,viral or fungal due to being highly immunosupressed.From memory aspergillus is a fungus and is found in places such as soil,brickwork etc.If the spores are picked up by someone who is immunocompromised by being breathed in etc they can develop pulmonary aspergillosis,a very nasty fungal infection.Ususally treated with high dose IV anti fungal medications in highly immunosupressed people.They can take a long time to clear and are potentially life threatening in cancer patients.I am sure that if you are not immunosupressed it would not be so dangerous though.Have you spoken to your gp to see if there is any info they can give you at all?Have just read this back and hope I have not scared you.Have you tried to Google it to seeif there are any reliable info sources out there?

Thanks wrinklytum. No, I'm not immunosuppressed. I do have very bad asthma though and had two bouts of pneumonia during the last 12 months so my lungs have been in bad shape. I don't think, from what I've read, that I'm at risk of the life-threatening version but I have got a life-changing version in that I will probably have to take oral steroids for the rest of my life and will be prone to developing pneumonia each time I get a respiratory infection.

I know it's a long-shot, but just a last little bump

I don't know much more than wrinklytum (microbiology background), but I'm guessing the 'allergic' bit means you've developed an allergy to a mould that's found in just about every bit of soil and dust you encounter, hence the longterm steroids...

MB, That's it I think. I'm pretty depressed about it actually. The long-term steroids especially as they do bring consequences with them.