An ailment called aspergillosis is brought on by Aspergillus, a common mold (a type of fungus) that can be found both indoors and out. Most people regularly inhale Aspergillus spores without becoming ill. However, those who already have lung conditions or compromised immune systems are more vulnerable to Aspergillus-related health issues. Allergies, lung infections, and infections in other organs are the different health issues brought on by Aspergillus.

ABOUT:

Aspergillus, a common mold (a type of fungus) that exists both indoors and out, is the disease that causes aspergillosis. Most people regularly inhale Aspergillus spores without becoming ill. However, those who already have lung conditions or compromised immune systems are more vulnerable to Aspergillus-related health issues. Aspergillosis comes in various forms. Some varieties are minor, while others are highly serious.

TYPES OF ASPERGILUS INFECTION:

•         When Aspergillus inflames the lungs and causes allergy symptoms like coughing and wheezing without infecting the body, the condition is known as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA).
•          When Aspergillus produces sinus inflammation and the signs of a sinus infection (drainage, stuffiness, headache), but not an infection, it is said to cause allergic Aspergillus sinusitis.
•          When one species of Aspergillus, A. fumigatus, develops a resistance to certain of the medications used to treat it, this condition is known as azole-resistant Aspergillus. Patients with infections that are resistant to therapy might not recover.
•          Aspergilloma: This condition develops when a ball of Aspergillus grows in the sinuses or lungs but often does not spread to other body organs. 4 A "fungus ball" is another name for aspergilloma.
•          Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis can last for three months or longer and is brought on by an Aspergillus infection that results in lung cavities. The lungs may also include one or more aspergillomas, which are fungus balls.
•         When Aspergillus creates a major infection, it is known as invasive aspergillosis. This condition typically affects persons with weaker immune systems, such as those who have undergone organ or stem cell transplants. Although invasive aspergillosis typically affects the lungs, it can also extend to other body organs.
•          Cutaneous (skin) aspergillosis: Occurs when Aspergillus infects the body through a break in the skin (for instance, following surgery or a burn wound), commonly in patients with compromised immune systems. Invasive aspergillosis can also move to the skin from another part of the body, such as the lungs, resulting in cutaneous aspergillosis.

ASPERGILLOSIS SYMPTOMS:

Different symptoms may be brought on by various aspergillosis kinds.

Similar to asthma symptoms, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) symptoms include:

•          Wheezing
•          Breathing difficulty
•          Chest Fever (in rare cases)

The following are signs of allergic Aspergillus sinusitis:

•          Stuffiness
•          Clogged nose
•          Headache
•         Decreased capacity for scent

Aspergilloma ("fungus ball")3 symptoms include:

•          Cough
•          A bloody cough
•          Breathing difficulty

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis has the following symptoms:

•         Losing weight
•          Cough
•          Fatigue Shortness of breath Coughing up blood

It might be challenging to determine whether symptoms are caused by an Aspergillus infection because invasive Aspergillosis typically affects persons who are already ill from other medical illnesses. But invasive aspergillosis in the lungs might cause the following symptoms:

•          Chest discomfort and fever
•          Cough
•          Bloody cough Shortness of breath

If the infection spreads from the lungs to other areas of the body, further symptoms may appear.

If you experience symptoms that you believe could be caused by aspergillosis, speak with your healthcare professional right once.

SPREAD:

·         A variety of persons are affected by the various aspergillosis types.

1.        People with cystic fibrosis or asthma are more likely to develop allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA).
2.         People with other lung disorders, such as tuberculosis, are typically more susceptible to aspergillomas. Likewise known as a "fungus ball."
3.          People with other lung conditions, such as sarcoidosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or tuberculosis, are more likely to develop chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.
4.          People with compromised immune systems, such as those who have undergone organ or stem cell transplantation, are undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, or are taking high doses of corticosteroids, are more susceptible to developing invasive aspergillosis. Hospitalized patients with severe influenza have been reported to have invasive aspergillosis.
5.      By inhaling tiny Aspergillus spores from the environment, people can contract aspergillosis. Most people regularly inhale Aspergillus spores without becoming ill. However, those who already have lung conditions or compromised immune systems are more vulnerable to Aspergillus-related health issues.

PREVENTION:

Because Aspergillus is a prevalent fungus in the environment, it is challenging to avoid breathing it in. There may be some approaches to lessen the likelihood of having a severe Aspergillus infection in patients with compromised immune systems.

•          Take environmental protection measures. It's vital to remember that even if these steps are advised, their ability to stop aspergillosis has not been established.
•          Avoid going to dusty places, such as construction or excavation sites. If you can't avoid them, protect your face while you're there by using an N95 respirator (a form of face mask). For additional details about respirators, click here.
•          Avoid tasks like gardening or yardwork that require close contact with soil or dust. If it's not feasible,
•         When engaging in outside activities like gardening, yard maintenance, or visiting wooded regions, wears shoes, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.
•          When working with substances like soil, moss, or manure, gloves should be worn.
•          Clean skin injuries thoroughly with soap and water, especially if they have been exposed to soil or dust, to lessen the likelihood that they will get infected
•      Your doctor may recommend medication to prevent aspergillosis if you are at a high risk of having invasive aspergillosis (for instance, if you've undergone an organ transplant or stem cell transplant). Researchers are still discovering which transplant recipients are most at risk for fungus infections and how to prevent them.
•      Blood testing to find invasive aspergillosis may be helpful for some high-risk patients. If you want to know if this kind of test is appropriate for you, go to your doctor.
•      From the lungs, aspergillosis cannot be transmitted between humans or between humans and animals.

DIAGNOSIS:

When diagnosing aspergillosis, medical professionals take into account your medical history, risk factors, symptoms, physical examinations, and lab tests. Depending on where the infection is thought to be, you might require imaging tests like a chest x-ray or a CT scan of your lungs or other areas of your body. A sample of fluid from your respiratory tract may be taken and sent to a lab if your doctor has reason to believe that you have an Aspergillus infection in your lungs. Medical professionals may also perform a tissue biopsy, in which a small sample of the diseased tissue is examined under a microscope or in a fungus culture in a laboratory for indications of Aspergillus.

In those with extremely compromised immune systems, a blood test can aid in the early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis.

ASPERGILLOSIS TREATMENT:

Voriconazole is the first-line medication for invasive aspergillosis. Posaconazole, isavuconazole, itraconazole, caspofungin, and micafungin are examples of alternative therapies. For patients who are at high risk for aspergillosis, allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients with graft versus host disease, lung transplant recipients, and certain other solid organ transplant recipients under specific circumstances, prophylaxis against aspergillosis is advised during prolonged neutropenia.

AZOLE-RESISTANT ASPERGILLOSIS:

Antifungal resistance is the ability of fungi to grow and survive in the presence of antifungal medications that are meant to kill them. Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus), a widespread mold in the environment and the main cause of invasive mold infections in humans is developing antifungal resistance.

Azole-resistant A. fumigatus is listed on the Watch List in the CDC's 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report, a group of bacteria and fungi that have just recently started to cause resistance infections in the United States but have the potential to spread quickly. The healthcare and environmental sectors need to pay attention to this public health issue.

A. fumigatus can cause aspergillosis, an invasive infection that can be fatal in those with compromised immune systems, underlying illnesses, or transplants. Aspergillosis has also been seen in patients with severe respiratory infections (such as the flu or COVID-19). Aspergillosis is mostly treated with triazole antifungal medications, also referred to as azoles. Patients with infections caused by the azole-resistant strain of A. fumigatus had a higher mortality rate—up to 33% higher—than those with infections that can be treated with azoles.

    Mucormycosis or zygomycosis (old name) is basically the black fungus that badly affects people in India during the Covid-19 breakdown. What is this black fungus or mucormycosis?

About:

    A group of molds known as mucormycetes is the source of the deadly but uncommon fungal infection known as mucormycosis (also known as zygomycosis). These fungi are present everywhere in the environment. They are found in soil and in organic waste that has decomposed, such as rotten wood, compost piles, or leaves.

By coming into contact with environmental fungal spores, people get mucormycosis. For instance, inhaling spores can lead to infections in the sinuses or lungs. People with health issues or those who take medications that reduce the body's ability to fight infection and illness are more likely to develop certain kinds of mucormycosis.

Types of mucormycosis:

•          An infection of the sinuses that can extend to the brain is called rhino cerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis. People with uncontrolled diabetes and kidney transplant recipients experience this most frequently. 4–5
•         The most prevalent form of mucormycosis in cancer patients, transplant recipients, and stem cell recipients is pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis.
•          Young children are more likely than adults to develop gastrointestinal mucormycosis. Infants under one month old who were born prematurely or with low birth weight are at risk if they underwent surgery, received antibiotics, or take other treatments that weaken the immune system. 6-7
•         After the fungus enters the body through a crack in the skin, cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis develops. After a burn, scrape, cut, surgery, or other kind of skin trauma, this kind of infection may develop. When a person's immune system is healthy, this type of mucormycosis is the most prevalent.
•          When the infection spreads to another area of the body through the bloodstream, it is known as diffused mucormycosis. Although the illness most frequently affects the brain, it can also damage the spleen, heart, and skin.

BLACK FUNGUS SYMPTOMS:

rhinocerebral mucormycosis symptoms include:

•          Face edema on one side
•          Headache
•          Sinusitis or nasal congestion
•          Immediately worsening black lesions on the bridge of the nose or the upper interior of the mouth
•          Fever

Pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis signs and symptoms include:

•          Chest discomfort
•          Fever
•          Cough
•          Breathing difficulty

Blisters or ulcers may appear as a result of cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis, and the affected region may turn black. Pain, warmth, extreme redness, or swelling near a cut are further signs.

• Gastrointestinal mucormycosis signs and symptoms include:
• Stomach ache
• Vomiting and nauseous
• Bleeding from the gut

It might be challenging to determine which symptoms are caused by mucormycosis because diffused mucormycosis generally affects persons who are already ill from other medical illnesses. Patients who have a disseminated infection in the brain may experience changes in their mental state or go into a coma.

WHO IS AT RISK?

    Mucormycosis is uncommon, however, it tends to affect people more frequently who are ill or take medications that impair the immune system's capacity to fight infection. 1-3 People with diabetes, especially those with diabetic ketoacidosis, cancer, organ transplants, stem cell transplants, neutropenia, long-term corticosteroid usage, injection drug use, hemochromatosis, and other conditions are more susceptible to developing mucormycosis. Surgical burn or wound-related skin damage, Low birth weight, and prematurity (for neonatal gastrointestinal mucormycosis).

SPREAD:

    Mucormycosis is contracted by coming into touch with environmental fungus spores. For instance, inhaling the spores from the air can lead to the infection's lung or sinus forms. After the fungus enters the skin through a scrape, burn, or other sort of skin damage, a skin infection may develop.

Both human-to-human and human-to-animal transmission of mucormycosis is impossible.

PREVENTION:

    Because the fungi that cause mucormycosis are widespread in the environment, it is challenging to prevent breathing in fungal spores. Mucormycosis cannot be prevented by vaccination. There may be some measures to reduce the risk of acquiring mucormycosis for those with compromised immune systems.

•         Take environmental protection measures. It's crucial to remember that while these activities are advised, there is no evidence that they can stop mucormycosis from occurring.
•          Avoid going to dusty places, such as construction or excavation sites. If you can't avoid them, protect your face while you're there by using an N95 respirator (a form of face mask). For additional details about respirators, click here.
•          After hurricanes and other natural catastrophes, stay away from flooding water and buildings that have been water-damaged. 6
•          Avoid tasks like gardening or yardwork that require close contact with soil or dust. If it's not feasible
•          When engaging in outside activities like gardening, yard maintenance, or visiting wooded regions, wear shoes, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.
•          When working with substances like soil, moss, or manure, gloves should be worn.
•          Clean skin injuries thoroughly with soap and water, especially if they have been exposed to soil or dust, to lessen the likelihood that they will get infected.

Your doctor may recommend medication to prevent mucormycosis and other mold infections if you are at a high risk of having it (for instance, if you've had an organ transplant or stem cell transplant). The most at-risk transplant recipients and the best ways to avoid fungal infections are currently being discovered by medical professionals and researchers.

DIAGNOSIS:

    When diagnosing mucormycosis, medical professionals take into account your medical history, symptoms, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. A sample of fluid from your respiratory system may be taken by medical professionals if they have reason to believe you have mucormycosis in your sinuses or lungs. Your doctor may do a tissue biopsy, in which a small sample of the diseased tissue is examined under a microscope or in a fungal culture in a lab to check for signs of mucormycosis. Depending on where the infection is thought to be, you could also require imaging tests like a CT scan of your lungs, sinuses, or other parts of your body.

BLACK FUNGUS TREATMENT:

    A prescription antifungal drug, typically amphotericin B, posaconazole, or isavuconazole, is required to treat the dangerous infection known as mucormycosis. Amphotericin B, posaconazole, and isavuconazole are administered intravenously or orally, respectively (posaconazole, isavuconazole). The fungi that cause mucormycosis are resistant to other medications like fluconazole, voriconazole, and echinocandins. Surgery is frequently necessary for mucormycosis to remove the affected tissue.

WHAT IS ATHLETE’S FOOT?

            Athlete's foot, also known as TINEA PEDIS, is an infectious fungus on foot. It can also affect the toes and hands. Because it is most commonly observed among sports, the illness is known as Athlete's foot.

           It is especially common among those who have sweaty feet as a result of wearing tight-fitting shoes. Athlete's foot is not a serious condition, but it can be difficult to treat, especially in people who are immunocompromised or have a history of diabetes.

SYMPTOMS:

           Athletes foot is characterised by a scaly red rash that appears between the toes. Itching is usually worse shortly after you take off your shoes or socks. Blisters and ulcers are also common side effects. Chronic dryness and scaling on the soles that spreads up the side of the foot are symptoms of the moccasin type of athlete's foot. It's easy to confuse it with eczema or dry skin. If you scarp or pick the diseased area from your foot, the illness can spread to your hands.

WHEN TO SEE DOCTOR?

·                           If a rash on your foot persists after two weeks of self-care, you should consult a doctor. If you have diabetes, consult your doctor if you develop any secondary bacterial infection signs, such as increased redness, swelling, discharge, or fever.

WHAT CAUSES ATHLETE’S FOOT?

           TINEA, a fungus that grows on the feet, causes athlete's foot. The fungus can be contracted by direct contact or through contact with fungus-infected areas. The fungus grows best in a warm, humid environment. Showers, locker room floors, and swimming pools are all frequent places to find it.

HOW IS ATHLETE’S FOOT DIAGNOSED?

         A doctor can either diagnose athlete's foot based on symptoms or order a skin test. The potassium hydroxide test is most commonly used to check for athlete's foot. In this test, a piece of diseased skin is immersed in KOH. KOH kills normal cells but leaves fungal cells alone, which can be viewed under a microscope.

ATHLETE'S FOOT TREATMENT:

           Over-the-counter (OTC) topical antifungal medicine is commonly used to treat athlete's foot. If over-the-counter antifungal medications don't work, your doctor may prescribe an oral prescription-strength antifungal medicine.

WHO IS AT RISK?

           Athlete's foot can affect anyone, but specific circumstances can make it more likely. Factors that raise the risk include:

• Visiting public areas while barefooted
• Having sweaty feet is a common occurrence.
• Socks for everyone
• Putting on shoes that are too tight
• Having a minor skin or nail injury on your feet

PREVENTIONS:

            Anyone can get athlete's foot, but some factors make it more likely. The following are some of the factors that increase the risk:

• Walking around barefoot in public places
• It's not uncommon to have sweaty feet.
• Everyone needs socks.
• Putting on shoes that are too small for you
• If you have a minor skin or nail damage on your foot, you should seek medical attention immediately.

DO IT ALL! Stay safe