Treating and Preventing Aspergillosis

How Aspergillosis Is Treated

If you have a milder form of aspergillosis and are experiencing few symptoms, the infection may not require treatment and could eventually clear up on its own. A single fungal ball, for example, may persist unchanged for a long time without treatment. It is recommended that, in these cases, your healthcare provider monitor you to ensure that the disease does not progress.

If treatment is required, your provider’s recommendation will depend on the form of aspergillosis that is diagnosed.

If you are diagnosed with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, an antifungal medication, such as itraconazole, is the most common course of action. If it is not effective, your provider may suggest an oral corticosteroid as an alternative treatment.

If you have chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and develop a fungal ball, surgery may be the best option if the mass is in a good location to be removed. Though sometimes prescribed, antifungal medications have been found to have little effect in these cases.

In the most severe cases, such as invasive aspergillosis, a combination of antifungal medication and surgery may be necessary. Other medications that are suppressing the immune system may also need to be discontinued during treatment. Your healthcare provider will help you determine the correct treatment for you.

Preventing Aspergillosis

Though it can be difficult to avoid exposure to Aspergillus, if you have severe lung disease or a weakened immune system, you should take special precautions, such as minimizing your exposure to soil and dust. If you are at high risk, your doctor may suggest taking antifungal medications as a preventive measure.

Visit our mold webpage for more information about how to handle mold infestation safely.