Fungal Infection in Lungs

Fungal pneumonia, more often referred to as fungal infection in lungs, is a health condition caused
due to invasion of certain types of fungi in the lungs. Fungal infections are relatively less common as
compared to viral or bacterial infections, and their diagnosis and treatment is also difficult as
compared to the other two.
Opportunistic fungi of genus Aspergilli and Cryptococcus are mainly threat for people with
compromised immunity. However, fungal species endemic to a certain region, like Blastomyces
dermatitidis and Histoplasma capsulatum, are threat to both immunocompromised as well as healthy
people in that region.
Fungal Infection in Lungs: An Overview
The fungal species that can cause infection in lungs are basically unavoidable as they are present
everywhere, even in our food. Usually, they make it to our lungs when we inhale their spores, but
then, the infection can also spread from other parts of the body to the lungs through our
bloodstream. In normal circumstances, the immune system attacks and destroys these invaders as
soon as they enter our body, even before they cause any damage. In some people, however, the
immune system is compromised due to some or the other reason, and therefore their body is unable
to fight this infection. Once inside, the fungi keep growing by deriving nourishment from the body
itself.
Mild fungal infection in lungs can go on to become a life-threatening condition when left unattended.
In case of aspergillosis, for instance, the infection can develop into a life-threatening condition
referred to as 'invasive aspergillosis'. In this case, the infection first spreads to the blood vessels,
and eventually to the other organs of the body and affects them. While healthy humans are better
equipped to respond to the treatment options like antifungal therapy, in individuals with
compromised immunity the mortality rate is quite high; around 90 percent in certain types.
Symptoms to Look Out For

The presence of fungus in the lungs need not necessarily show any physical symptoms, especially if
the infection is mild. In some cases, only radiography (X-ray) can help in determining the presence of
fungus ball in lungs. As the infection becomes severe, the symptoms slowly start showing up. Most of
these are generic symptoms like cough, chest pain, fever, difficulty in breathing, etc., as a result of
which the condition is often misdiagnosed in the initial stages.
When the infection spreads to blood vessels, the person suffering from this condition experiences
severe cough, and in some cases, may even vomit blood. If this lung infection is not subjected to
proper treatment in time, it can spread to other organs of the body. In such a case, the patient also
experiences more severe symptoms, ranging from shock and/or delirium to kidney failure and/or
liver failure, eventually resulting in death.
Diagnosis

Early diagnosis of this condition is important as the same is closed associated with its mortality rate;
i.e. more the delay, higher the mortality. The symptoms provided above are helpful in preliminary
diagnosis, based on which, the general practitioner may recommend X-ray or a CT scan of the lungs
to determine the presence of fungus. That, however, is restricted to certain types of fungal
pneumonia (e.g. Aspergillus), while in other cases, methods like fungal culture and detection of
antigens are used. If the presence of fungal infection is determined, the doctor may even
recommend a biopsy. A bronchoscope or a rhinoscope is used to obtain the fungus present in the
lungs, which is later subjected to lab analysis for further examination.
Treatment Options

In most of the cases, antifungal medications are used for the treatment of fungal infection in the
lungs. On the basis of diagnosis, the general practitioner will prescribe medications which are meant
to specifically target that particular fungi which has affected the individual. However, one has to be
careful when using these medications, as they have high probability of interfering with other
medications and further complicating the issue.

In case of internal bleeding, or if a fungal ball has formed in the lungs, antifungal medications are of
no use as they can't penetrate this ball. In such a case, the patient may have to undergo
embolization, to prevent bleeding, or surgery to remove the fungus ball. In case of allergic
aspergillosis, oral corticosteroids are known to be effective in curbing the infection. In people with
compromised immune system, the underlying issue has to be addressed.
Even though it's nearly impossible to avoid coming in contact with the fungi which can lead to fungal
infection, one can take some precautionary measures to avoid it. Studies reveal that the immune
system of a person weakens when he is suffering from any disease, which, in turn, makes him
vulnerable to various types of infections. If suffering from any disease which is known to weaken the
immune system, one should wear a mask to keep various infectious diseases at bay. At the same
time, even maintaining a healthy diet ensures that you have a healthy immune system which is
capable of fighting fungal infection in any part of the body.
Disclaimer: This article is purely for the purpose of providing information, and should not be used as
a substitute for medical advice.