Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)? " пїЅ Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (called "ABPA " пїЅ here) is an allergic reaction that can cause coughing, wheezing, and other symptoms. It usually happens in people who have asthma or cystic fibrosis. These lung conditions make it hard to breathe. пїЅ пїЅ

People who get ABPA are allergic to a fungus called "aspergillus. " пїЅ This allergy is more serious than an allergy to pollen or pets. ABPA can cause scars to form inside the lungs. This can make asthma or other conditions worse. пїЅ пїЅ

What are the symptoms of ABPA? " пїЅ The symptoms include: пїЅ пїЅ

Coughing up mucus with brown specks in it
Wheezing or noisy breathing
Fever
Feeling sick

A few people who get ABPA cough up blood, but not everyone does. пїЅ пїЅ

Should I see a doctor or nurse? " пїЅ If you are coughing up blood, call your doctor or nurse. Call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, dial 9-1-1) if you have a severe asthma attack and your symptoms: пїЅ пїЅ

Get worse
Do not get better after using a quick-relief medicine

Will I need tests? " пїЅ Yes. Your doctor or nurse will do an exam and learn about your symptoms. He or she can also order the following tests: пїЅ пїЅ

Chest X-ray " пїЅ This might show changes in the lungs caused by ABPA.
CT scan of the chest " пїЅ This is an imaging test that uses a special X-ray to create pictures of the inside of the body. It can show more details than a regular X-ray.
Breathing tests " пїЅ For these tests, you breathe hard into a tube. The tests show how well your lungs are working.
Skin test " пїЅ In this test, the doctor or nurse will put a tiny bit of aspergillus on your skin. Then he or she will make a tiny prick in the skin. The aspergillus has been treated so it cannot make you sick. After 15 or 20 minutes, you might get a red, itchy bump like a mosquito bite. If you do, it means you are allergic to the fungus and ABPA might be causing your symptoms. If you do not get a bump, you probably do not have ABPA.
Blood test " пїЅ This can show if your bodys infection-fighting system, called the "immune system, " пїЅ shows signs of an allergy to aspergillus.

How is ABPA treated? " пїЅ ABPA is treated with medicines. These include: пїЅ пїЅ

Steroid medicines, such as prednisone (brand name: PredniSONE) " пїЅ To help the lungs get better. Steroids help with inflammation in the lungs. These are not the same steroids that athletes take to build up muscle.
Medicines to kill the fungus that causes aspergillosis. These include itraconazole (brand name: Sporanox) or voriconazole (brand name: VFEND).

Your doctor or nurse will do blood tests every month or two to see if the ABPA is getting better. You might also have X-rays to check your lungs. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 83427 Version 4.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ

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Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

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