February 1st is World Aspergillosis Day. As this isn't a disease that is routinely tracked, it's hard to know just how many people have it. The CDC estimates that 14,000 hospitalizations in 2014 were caused by aspergillosis. It's also been estimated that 4.8 million people with asthma also have aspergillosis
Aspergillus Is Everywhere
What is it? Aspergillus is a mold that's commonly found in households and outdoor environments. It's in the soil, grass, moss, etc. Some people have minor symptoms that are no different from common allergies. People with weakened immune systems may experience troubling symptoms.
There Are Six Types of Aspergillosis
In general, there are six types of aspergillosis.
Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis - Aspergillus causes lung inflammation.
Allergic Aspergillus Sinusitis - Aspergillus irritates and causes inflammation in the sinuses.
Aspergilloma - Aspergillus grows within the lungs and forms a "fungus ball."
Azole-Resistant Aspergillus Fumigatus - Aspergillosis becomes resistant to medications commonly used to treat the disease.
Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis - Aspergillus creates pockets in the lungs to create long-term illness.
Cutaneous Aspergillosis - The mold gets into a burn, cut, or scratch on the skin and causes infection.
Invasive Aspergillosis - Aspergillus gets into a person with a weakened immune system and greatly impacts the lungs and can spread throughout the body causing multiple infections.
Symptoms Are Commonly Found In Other Conditions
One of the biggest problems with aspergillosis is that the common symptoms are found in your common cold, allergies, or flu. A runny nose, sinus congestion, and cough are the most prevalent. Sometimes, fever, difficulty breathing, weight loss, and fatigue are also present. It's often not until someone is coughing up blood that they seek medical care.
If your mom's home or yard is particularly moldy, it's best to ask her doctor about the chances of aspergillosis being present. It won't impact her much unless she has a weakened immune system. At that point, she may need to take antifungal medications.
Higher Rates of Aspergillosis Are Found In People With Other Conditions
Generally, people never realize they've been exposed to these mold spores, but some people with weaker lungs or a weakened immune system do show signs of having aspergillosis. This includes people who've undergone organ transplants, have cystic fibrosis, or had COVID.
It's Difficult to Avoid Exposure
As aspergillus is found in the soil, on plants, and even in the air when people mow lawns, till the soil, or remove moss, it's hard to avoid exposure. Your mom can wear an N-95 mask when outside, stop gardening, and use an air purifier within her home. It's still not guaranteed that she won't breathe in these mold spores.
If she has a weak immune system, she should talk to her doctor to make sure her allergy, cold, or flu symptoms aren't something more. If it's determined she has aspergillosis, hire senior home care.
Your mom will want to take it easy. Hire caregivers to clean her home, do the laundry, and change air purifier filters as needed. Call a senior home care specialist to discuss schedules and prices.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/aspergillosis/statistics.html