Medical Insider – Dr. Ria P. Maslog
Aspergillosis
Aspergillus is the second most common fungus causing superficial and deep infection.
The number one cause is Candida. The aspergillus genus is found in the soil and grow as saprophytes.
The most common species are Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus.
The infection is caused by inhalation of small spores.
Majority of children colonized by aspergilli are asymptomatic.
However for those who are greatly infected like In the lungs, they caused invasive inflammatory, granulomatous and necrotizing lesions.
For immunocompromised children, Aspergillus may become disseminated to the central nervous system and other organs that may result to death.
Also, Aspergillus flavus may grow in wheat, peanuts and other grains resulting to production of aflatoxin, a toxic metabolite.
This may result to acute fatal hepatic necrosis or subacute cirrhosis that may lead to hepatocellular carcinoma.
Furthermore, Aspergillus may colonize debilitated tissues and preformed cavities causing obstruction.
In the lungs, plugging of the airway may result to symptoms like that of bronchial asthma.
Also, allergy to the fungus may cause allergic bronchopulmonary disease.