What are the symptoms of aspergillosis?
Symptoms of aspergillosis vary depending on the type and location in your body. Symptoms of infections or allergic reactions in your lungs are the most common. They include:
- Coughing (sometimes coughing up blood).
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea).
- Noisy breathing (wheezing).
- Chest pain.
- Fever.
Fatigue and weight loss can be symptoms of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.
You may have additional symptoms if the infection spreads to other parts of your body, including:
| Body part | Type | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Eyes. | Fungal keratitis. | Red eyes; eye pain; blurred vision. |
| Sinuses. | Allergic or invasive Aspergillus sinusitis. | Stuffy or runny nose; headache; reduced sense of smell. |
| Skin. | Cutaneous aspergillosis. | Red, hardened patches; may progress to ulcers that turn black. |
| Brain. | Cerebral aspergillosis. | Mood changes; confusion; seizures; weakness. |
| Stomach and intestines. | Gastrointestinal aspergillosis. | Fever; abdominal pain; diarrhea; constipation. |
| Sinuses, nasal passages, mouth and brain. | Rhinocerebral aspergillosis. | Fever; swelling on one side of your face; headaches; stuffy nose; nasal pain; bloody mucus in your nose; drooping eyelids; black pus draining from your mouth, nose or eyes. |
| Body part | ||
| Body part | ||
| Eyes. | ||
| Type | ||
| Fungal keratitis. | ||
| Symptoms | ||
| Red eyes; eye pain; blurred vision. | ||
| Sinuses. | ||
| Type | ||
| Allergic or invasive Aspergillus sinusitis. | ||
| Symptoms | ||
| Stuffy or runny nose; headache; reduced sense of smell. | ||
| Skin. | ||
| Type | ||
| Cutaneous aspergillosis. | ||
| Symptoms | ||
| Red, hardened patches; may progress to ulcers that turn black. | ||
| Brain. | ||
| Type | ||
| Cerebral aspergillosis. | ||
| Symptoms | ||
| Mood changes; confusion; seizures; weakness. | ||
| Stomach and intestines. | ||
| Type | ||
| Gastrointestinal aspergillosis. | ||
| Symptoms | ||
| Fever; abdominal pain; diarrhea; constipation. | ||
| Sinuses, nasal passages, mouth and brain. | ||
| Type | ||
| Rhinocerebral aspergillosis. | ||
| Symptoms | ||
| Fever; swelling on one side of your face; headaches; stuffy nose; nasal pain; bloody mucus in your nose; drooping eyelids; black pus draining from your mouth, nose or eyes. |
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What causes aspergillosis?
Many different species of the fungi Aspergillus cause aspergillosis. A. fumigatus is the most common cause.
Aspergillus lives in the environment around us, so we can easily breathe it in. Most people’s bodies eliminate Aspergillus fungus without getting sick. But certain conditions, like a weakened immune system or chronic lung disease, can make it easier to get sick from Aspergillus.
How do you get an Aspergillus infection?
Inhaling Aspergillus from the air can cause an allergic reaction or an infection in your sinuses or lungs. From there, it can move to other parts of your body if your immune system can’t fight off the infection. It can also get into your body through a cut in your skin.
Is aspergillosis contagious?
No, aspergillosis isn’t contagious. You can’t catch it from another person.
