Aspergillosis

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**Aspergillosis**
*Classifications and external resources*
Image:Pulmonary aspergillosis (1) invasive type.jpg
Histopathologic image of pulmonary invasive aspergillosis in a patient with interstitial pneumonia. Autopsy material. Grocott's methenamine silver stain.
MedlinePlus	001326
eMedicine	med/174

Aspergillosis is the name given to a wide variety of diseases caused by the genus of fungi Aspergillus. The most common forms are allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, pulmonary aspergilloma and invasive aspergillosis. Compromised immune systems often allow Aspergillus to colonize. Albeit relatively rare in humans, aspergillosis is a common and dangerous infection in birds, particularly in pet parrots.

1 Diagnosis
2 Treatment
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Diagnosis

On chest X-ray and computed tomography pulmonary aspergillosis classically manifests as an air crescent sign.<ref>Curtis A, Smith G, Ravin C (Oct 1979). "Air crescent sign of invasive aspergillosis.". Radiology 133 (1): 17-21. PMID 472287.</ref>

[edit] Treatment

The drugs amphotericin B, caspofungin, flucytosine, itraconazole and voriconazole<ref>Herbrecht R, Denning D, Patterson T, Bennett J, Greene R, Oestmann J, Kern W, Marr K, Ribaud P, Lortholary O, Sylvester R, Rubin R, Wingard J, Stark P, Durand C, Caillot D, Thiel E, Chandrasekar P, Hodges M, Schlamm H, Troke P, de Pauw B; Invasive Fungal Infections Group of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Global Aspergillus Study Group. (Aug 8 2002). "Voriconazole versus amphotericin B for primary therapy of invasive aspergillosis.". N Engl J Med 347 (6): 408-15. PMID 12167683.</ref> are used to treat this fungal infection.