Aspergillosis management

Aspergillosis management

Clinical presentation

• Cough

• Fever

• Chest pain

• Difficulty breathing

• Haemoptysis ranging from mild to severe

• Wheezing may be noted on auscultation

• Mucous plugs upon coughing

• Tachypnoea with rapidly progressive worsening

• Hypoxaemia

Investigations

• Chest X-ray and CT scan

  • Pulmonary aspergillosis classically manifests as a halo sign and later an air crescent sign

• Sputum culture

• Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)

Non-pharmacological treatment

• Surgical treatment

• Bronchial artery embolization (for life-threatening haemoptysis)

Pharmacological treatment

Itraconazole

• Itraconazole (PO) 100–200 mg every 24 hours for 6–12 weeks