What is Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA)?

Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis Latest News

Recently, a new research paper has identified a life-threatening fungal infection called chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), mostly in the damaged lungs of tuberculosis survivors among Assam’s tea plantation workers.

About Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis

• It is an infection caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus that strikes individuals with immunodeficiency.
• It is a chronic lung disease that occurs commonly in pre-existing lung cavities.
• It mostly occurs in post-TB or active TB patients and shares similar clinical features with tuberculosis.
• It is not contagious, meaning it cannot be passed from person to person.

Symptoms of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis

• It doesn’t always cause symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do occur, they can vary from person to person. The most common symptom of CPA is coughing up blood. 
• Other symptoms can include: unintentional weight loss, fatigue, shortness of breath, wheezing

Treatment of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis

• Antifungal medications are the most common treatment for CPA.
• Surgery is an option to remove the fungal mass.

Key facts about Aspergillus 

• Aspergillus species are filamentous fungi that are commonly found in soil, decaying vegetation, and seeds and grains, where they thrive as saprophytes. 
• Most Aspergillus species are found in a wide variety of environments and substrates on the Earth throughout the year.
• Only a few well-known species are considered as important opportunistic pathogens in humans.

Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis FAQs

Q1: What causes chronic pulmonary aspergillosis?

Ans: It is caused by a fungal infection

Q2: What are the symptoms of pulmonary aspergillosis?

Ans: Frequent and bloody coughing as well as shortness of breath.

Q3: What are Fungi?

Ans: These are eukaryotic organisms that include moulds, yeasts, and related organisms like mushrooms within the kingdom Fungi.

Q4: What is Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) disease?

Ans: It is an infection that often occurs in immunocompromised patients and has a high mortality rate

Source: TH