Symptoms Hub
People living with aspergillosis can experience a wide range of symptoms, including cough, sputum or mucus, fatigue, breathlessness, chest discomfort and, in some forms of the disease, haemoptysis (coughing up blood). Symptoms vary considerably between people and between different forms of aspergillosis.
Symptoms alone cannot usually tell you whether aspergillosis is active or worsening. Many symptoms can also be caused by asthma, bronchiectasis, infection and other respiratory conditions, so changes need to be considered alongside tests, scans and your overall clinical picture.
This hub brings together information about individual symptoms, what may contribute to them, ways of managing them, and when a new or worsening symptom may need medical assessment.
Lung Bleeding (Haemoptysis) in Aspergillosis: What It Means and What to Expect
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Imaging Hub (CT, HRCT, MRI)
Medical imaging is an important part of diagnosing and monitoring many forms of aspergillosis. Chest X-rays, CT and high-resolution CT (HRCT) can show changes in the lungs such as cavities, fungal balls, bronchiectasis, fibrosis and other patterns that may help doctors understand what is happening.
Scans are only one part of the diagnosis. Imaging findings usually need to be interpreted alongside symptoms, previous scans, blood tests, microbiology and other clinical information. Different lung conditions can sometimes produce similar appearances on a scan.
This hub brings together more detailed information about CT, HRCT, X-ray and other imaging used in aspergillosis, including how scans are interpreted and how imaging can be used to follow changes over time.
Can Lung Cavities Heal in Aspergillosis? – Why some lung cavities shrink, why others remain, and how doctors assess treatment success in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA).
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Latest Imaging Articles
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Diagnostics & Monitoring Hub
Diagnosing and monitoring aspergillosis usually involves several different sources of information, including symptoms, blood tests, sputum or other respiratory samples, lung function tests and medical imaging. No single test provides all the answers.
New to aspergillosis diagnosis? Start with our main guide to diagnosis and monitoring, which explains how doctors combine symptoms, scans, laboratory tests and clinical history to diagnose and follow aspergillosis.
This hub brings together more detailed information about individual tests and monitoring tools, including Aspergillus IgG and IgE, eosinophils, galactomannan, sputum cultures, blood tests and lung function testing, and explains what results can — and cannot — tell you.
Understanding Your Diagnosis
Different forms of aspergillosis require different investigations.
These guides explain how doctors diagnose fungal lung infections
and allergic conditions such as ABPA and SAFS.
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Latest Diagnostic Articles
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Complementary Approaches & Supplements Hub
Some people living with aspergillosis use supplements, dietary approaches or complementary therapies alongside their medical treatment. These may be used to support general health, nutrition, wellbeing or symptom management, but the evidence supporting individual approaches varies considerably.
Complementary therapies should complement rather than replace proven treatment for aspergillosis. Vitamins, herbal products and other supplements can also cause side effects or interact with prescribed medicines. This is particularly important for people taking antifungal medicines such as itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole or isavuconazole.
This hub brings together evidence-based information about topics such as vitamin D, nutrition, probiotics, supplements and other complementary approaches, including what research tells us about possible benefits, where evidence is uncertain, and how to use these approaches more safely alongside conventional treatment.
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Latest Complementary Therapy Articles
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Airway Clearance, Diagnosis & Physiotherapy Hub
Airway clearance techniques help move and remove mucus from the lungs. They can be particularly useful for people with bronchiectasis, persistent sputum, mucus plugging or difficulty clearing secretions, including some people with ABPA, CPA and Aspergillus bronchitis.
Airway clearance does not treat the fungal infection or allergic response itself. It is a supportive part of respiratory care that can make mucus easier to clear, improve airway hygiene and help some people manage symptoms such as cough and chest congestion.
This hub brings together physiotherapy guidance and practical information about techniques including the Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT), huffing, positioning, nebulised saline and airway clearance devices such as PEP and oscillating PEP devices. The most appropriate technique varies between individuals, and a respiratory physiotherapist can help develop a suitable routine.
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Latest Airway Clearance Articles
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Steroids & Tapering Hub
Corticosteroids such as prednisolone and methylprednisolone are powerful anti-inflammatory medicines. They are particularly important in conditions such as ABPA, where an excessive immune response to Aspergillus causes inflammation in the lungs.
Steroids are not antifungal medicines. They reduce inflammation and immune activity rather than killing Aspergillus. Depending on the condition, they may therefore be used alongside antifungal medicines or other treatments such as biologics.
This hub explains short courses and longer-term steroid treatment, side effects, dose reduction and tapering, adrenal suppression and adrenal insufficiency, bone protection, mood and sleep changes, and approaches to safer long-term use.
Steroid doses should not normally be reduced or stopped suddenly without medical advice. After prolonged treatment, the body’s own production of cortisol can be suppressed, making careful dose reduction particularly important.
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Latest Steroid Articles
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Biologics Hub
Biologic medicines target specific parts of the immune system involved in inflammation. Medicines such as omalizumab, mepolizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab and tezepelumab are used particularly in severe asthma and other conditions driven by type 2 inflammation.
Biologics may also be considered in some people with ABPA, particularly when severe asthma, eosinophilic inflammation or recurrent disease is difficult to control. They are not antifungal medicines and do not directly kill Aspergillus.
This hub brings together information about how biologics work, the different immune pathways they target, who may benefit, possible side effects, monitoring and their potential role in reducing the need for systemic corticosteroids.
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Latest Biologics Articles
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Antifungals Hub
Antifungal medicines are a central part of treatment for many forms of aspergillosis. Different antifungals work in different ways, and the choice of medicine depends on the type of aspergillosis, previous treatment, other medicines, side effects and whether the fungus is susceptible to the drug.
New to aspergillosis treatment? Start with our main guide to treatment and management, which explains the different approaches used to treat aspergillosis and how treatment is monitored.
This hub brings together detailed information about antifungal medicines including itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, isavuconazole and amphotericin B, as well as newer antifungals in development. It also covers side effects, drug interactions, therapeutic drug monitoring, antifungal resistance and treatment safety.
Understanding antifungal medicines – how they work, their uses and side effects
Inhaled treatments: Some respiratory medicines are delivered directly into the lungs using inhalers or nebulisers. For an explanation of the devices, how they work and how to use them safely, see our guide to inhalers and nebulisers.
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Latest Antifungals Articles
SAFS / Severe Asthma with Fungal Sensitisation Hub
Severe asthma with fungal sensitisation (SAFS) is a form of severe asthma in which the immune system is sensitised to one or more fungi, such as Aspergillus. This fungal sensitisation can contribute to airway inflammation and difficult-to-control asthma symptoms. SAFS is not the same as a fungal infection of the lungs.
New to SAFS? Start with our main guide to severe asthma with fungal sensitisation (SAFS), which explains what SAFS is, how it is investigated and the approaches used to manage it.
This hub brings together more detailed information about SAFS, including fungal sensitisation, severe asthma, eosinophils, biologic medicines, inhaled treatments, flare-ups and steroid treatment.
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Latest SAFS Articles
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Aspergillus Bronchitis Hub
Aspergillus bronchitis is a condition in which Aspergillus is persistently present in the airways and is associated with ongoing respiratory symptoms, often including chronic cough and sputum production. It can occur particularly in people with underlying airway diseases such as bronchiectasis.
New to Aspergillus bronchitis? Start with our main guide to Aspergillus bronchitis, which explains the condition, how it is investigated and the approaches used to treatment and monitoring.
This hub brings together more detailed information about Aspergillus bronchitis, including persistent symptoms, sputum and fungal testing, airway clearance, antifungal treatment and related respiratory conditions.
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Latest Aspergillus Bronchitis Articles
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