Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (or in short called – ABPA) is an allergic condition of the lungs due to fungus. In this post, you will get to know about this condition’s basics. Please consult your doctor for assessment and guidance if you experience any symptoms, and avoid self-diagnosis and self-treatment. This post is for educational purposes only.
What is allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis or ABPA?
ABPA is an allergic reaction that occurs in the lungs, causing cough, and wheezing along with other symptoms such as fever, and lethargy.
Who can suffer from ABPA?
ABPA usually occurs in people suffering from asthma or cystic fibrosis.
What is the source of allergy in patients with ABPA?
People who suffer from ABPA are allergic to a fungus called ‘Aspergillus’. The allergic response in the lungs to this fungus can cause scars to form in the airways of the lungs, which makes asthma and other conditions worse.
What are the symptoms of ABPA?
The symptoms of ABPA include:
– Cough with thick phlegm which sometimes contains brownish specks in it
– Wheezing
– Fever
– Lethargy
– Hemoptysis or coughing up blood may occur in a few people.
When should I see a doctor?
If you have asthma, you shall see the doctor if your asthma is getting out of control despite being on maximum treatment and regular treatment, the doctor may assess you for this condition.
Also, see your doctor if you cough up blood.
What tests are done?
If your doctor wants to assess you for ABPA after learning about your symptoms and examining you, they may consider doing these tests:
Chest X-ray
CT scan of the chest – It is superior to a chest x-ray in getting more details of the lungs.
Breathing tests – You breathe hard into a tube (picture) during these tests which show how well your lungs are working.
Skin test – In this test, the nurse will put a tiny bit of an extract of aspergillus on your skin. Then they will make a tiny prick in the skin. The aspergillus is not alive, and it has been treated so it cannot make you sick. After 15 or 20 minutes, you might get a red, itchy bump like a mosquito bite. If you do, it means you are allergic to the fungus and ABPA might be causing your symptoms. If you do not get a bump, you probably do not have ABPA.
Blood test – This can show if your body’s infection-fighting system, called the “immune system,” shows signs of an allergy to aspergillus.
What is the treatment of ABPA?
ABPA is treated with medicines. These can include:
Steroid medicines, such as prednisone – Steroids help reduce inflammation in the lungs. They come as pills or in a shot.
Antifungal medicines to kill the fungus that causes ABPA – These include itraconazole or voriconazole.
Asthma medicines – Most people also need medicines to treat their asthma. These include inhaled “bronchodilator” medicines like salbutamol (called Albuterol in U.S.), inhaled steroids, and inhalers that contain both a bronchodilator and a steroid.
How often do I need to see the doctor for ABPA?
Your doctor will do blood tests every few months to see if the ABPA is getting better. You might also have X-rays to check your lungs.