Infectious diseases >>>> Mycoses of the lungs

Mycoses of the lungs.

The causes of fungal diseases of the lungs.

Mycoses of the lungs or fungal diseases of the lungs can develop in the body as independent diseases or against the background of other pulmonary diseases of an infectious and non-infectious nature. The routes of entry into the lungs of microorganisms of fungal origin are different. The fungus can enter the lung tissue endogenously - from foci of a fungal infection already present in the body (for example, with candidiasis) or penetrate exogenously (by airborne droplets or through damaged skin and mucous barriers) from the environment (for example, with coccidioidosis, aspergillosis, histomplasmosis, actinomycosis, streptotrichosis, zygomycosis, hyalogyphomycosis, blastomycosis).

There are a number of factors that create preconditions for the development of a fungal infection of the lungs :

Reduced immunity, providing weak resistance to pathogenic microorganisms,
Dusty atmosphere containing fungal spores,
Residential and office space, affected by mold,
Chronic lung diseases that create favorable conditions for the defeat of lung tissue by fungal infections,
Chronic bacterial infections that weaken the immune system,
Medication with drugs that weaken the immune system (corticosteroids),
Immune-weakening radiotherapy,
Excessive enthusiasm for antibiotic therapy, which causes dysbiosis, in which the composition of the microflora changes towards an increase in the colonies of fungi - saprophytes,
Untreated or poorly treated fungal infections that have other lesions in the body.

How to distinguish mycosis of the lungs from another disease?

Signs of mycosis of the lungs can hide behind symptoms of acute respiratory viral diseases, resembling chronic bronchitis, asthma or lung disease. The main signs of a fungal infection in the lungs can manifest as an indomitable cough, general weakness, sweating, allergic reactions, chest pain, shortness of breath, and / or fever. Many fungi that can cause toxic damage to the lungs can also provoke general intoxication of the body, which will be reflected in the following symptoms: nausea, dizziness, gastrointestinal disorders.

Only laboratory analysis of sputum and X-ray examination can reliably determine the presence of a fungal infection in the lungs. Sometimes a fungal infection of the lungs occurs in the form of polymycosis (several pathogenic fungi are detected).

Treatment of mycosis of the lungs includes taking antifungal drugs corresponding to the identified pathogenic fungus, the choice of which is also correlated with current human diseases. In parallel, immunostimulating therapy is carried out . The success of treatment depends on the timely provision of qualified assistance, for this reason, self-treatment of fungal diseases of the lungs is unacceptable.