My dad has Aspergillosis

[Seav1993]

Hello, my name is Sara. Recently my 70 year old father has been diagnosed with Aspergillosis. Right now I know it’s pulmonary and we are trying to prevent it from graduating to invasive. I live in the United States and my dad lives in Costa Rica, Central America. He has had one fungal ball the size of a lemon removed from his sinuses so far but he is still very sick. I’m absolutely terrified for my dad, and it kills me I can’t be with him right now. I’m only 26, I’m not ready to lose him, and I hate I can’t be with him during this time. I don’t think I can watch him wither away. I don’t even know where to start or how to help him. I just need some guidance. Any words are welcome- someone please just help point me in the right direction.

Love,

Sara

[GAtherton Administrator Fungal Infection Trust]

Hello Sara

People get aspergillosis for several reasons and there are several different forms - see aspergillosis.org/aspergill...

From what you say I would guess that your father has a chronic form (probably CPA) as it is that form that tends to result in large fungal balls (aspergilloma) forming in lungs. It is important to get a correct diagnosis and then important to treat this with long term antifungal medication. NOTE This is not the same as acute invasive aspergillosis which is very difficult to treat and as you will read has a high mortality rate.

The National Aspergillosis Centre in Manchester, UK (nationalaspergillosiscentre... manage lots of people with CPA and are available to give advise to your doctors at any time.

[Seav1993 in reply to GAtherton]

Thank you! I will look into this. His lungs have tested positive for the Aspergillus but so far he doesn’t appear to have any Aspergillomas in the lungs (from what they can see anyway). I don’t have any idea what his chances are of beating it. He has an appointment of Tuesday to discuss a game plan for antifungal meds and treatment. I worry about the care he is receiving in Costa Rica.

[GAtherton Administrator Fungal Infection Trust in reply to Seav1993]

From what you say I would guess that your father may be a sinusitis/ABPA patient. This is a highly manageable illness and not something that is likely to threaten his life immediately provided he gets the right treatment. Keep in touch.

[Saassii]

How did he get it? 70 years old, has his home or dwelling had a water intrusion, leaving water stains, mold etc? You've gotten some good advice for where to seek help, my question is so you can think about his environment, the cause and how to best survive going forward.

[Seav1993 in reply to Saassii]

Yes, he lives in the tropics... I know he is tearing into the roof of the house because there is a lot of mold and they’re trying to control it by cleaning daily and using a humidifier but I don’t feel it’s enough. I live in a very dry dusty climate in the US but I don’t think my father will be willing to leave his dogs or his fiancé.

[Saassii]

Dang, sorry to hear it. If the place is infested and he's gotten sick there's no remediating that to a level that he'll cope. The option is drop all porous and semi porous items and wash anything else in a separate location and move to a clean environment.

I've done this and feel to have barely survived.

[Saassii]

This paper was helpful. It described the process that was happening to me perfectly.

bellflowermold.kaiserpapers...

[GAtherton Administrator Fungal Infection Trust in reply to Saassii]

HI Saassii - the article you refer to by Croft from 18 years ago is quite striking in that it tries to trace a pathway from exposure to moulds to severe and all-encompassing sickness.

What it doesn't do is describe what level of exposure is required to do this and it does sound quite extreme. Whether those same conditions apply in the majority of cases we hear of is not established.

The same author is accused of similar exaggerations elsewhere - it is also mentioned that he is a vet rather than a medical doctor.

I can say that recent reviews do not bear this article out - for example here is much more recent review that traces people getting ill quite well but in less extreme terms

clinicaltherapeutics.com/ar...

[gods7send]

Eat a low inflammation diet and take herbs to control fungus and inflammation. Pharma products will only cause the problem to get worse. Initially they help but in the end cause a bigger problem and strengthens the fungus.