🌿 Seasonal Patterns in Aspergillosis (General Overview for UK)

🔹 1. Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA)

ABPA symptoms — including cough, wheezing, chest tightness, and sputum plugs — often flare in spring and autumn, due to:

• 🌸 Increased spore counts in the air (Aspergillus spores peak with leaf mold, compost, and decaying plant material)

  • Homes that have poorly controlled humidity tend to grow moulds more in Autumn/Winter

• 🤧 Coinciding with other allergies and asthma triggers

• 🍂 Damp weather and decaying vegetation can promote indoor mold growth

📌 Patients often report flares in April–May and September–October, sometimes needing steroids or antifungals adjusted.

🔹 2. Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA)

CPA may show less dramatic seasonality, but symptoms (fatigue, cough, haemoptysis) can worsen in:

• ❄️ Winter – due to:

  • Increased viral infections (influenza, RSV, etc.)

  • Cold air worsening underlying lung disease (COPD, bronchiectasis)

  • Indoor heating leading to drier air and more airborne spores

    • Homes that have poorly controlled humidity tend to grow moulds more in Autumn/Winter

• 📉 Reduced sunlight/vitamin D may also affect immunity

🔹 3. Invasive Aspergillosis (IA)

Invasive disease tends to be more linked to hospital exposure, immunosuppression, and construction/dust, rather than season. However:

• Some studies have linked higher hospital-acquired IA rates to building works in warmer months, when air filtration is challenged.

✅ Summary Statement You Could Use:

“While aspergillosis can cause symptoms year-round, many patients with ABPA or chronic forms report worsening symptoms in spring and autumn, likely due to increased mold exposure, humidity changes, and seasonal allergens. Winter can also pose challenges for those with weakened lungs or immune systems.”