Aspergillosis is an infection, growth, or allergic response caused by the Aspergillus fungus.

Aspergillosis is caused by a fungus (Aspergillus), which is commonly found growing on dead leaves, stored grain, compost piles, or in other decaying vegetation.

There are several forms of aspergillosis:

• Pulmonary aspergillosis - allergic bronchopulmonary type is an allergic reaction to the fungus that develops in with asthma.
• Aspergilloma is a growth (fungus ball) that develops in an area of previous lung disease such as tuberculosis or lung abscess
• Pulmonary aspergillosis - invasive type is a serious infection with pneumonia that spreads to other parts of the body. This infection occurs almost exclusively in people with weakened immune systems due to cancer, AIDS, leukemia, organ transplantation, chemotherapy, or other conditions or events that reduce the number of normal white blood cells.

Symptoms depend on the actual type of infection. For symptoms of aspergillosis-related growth, see aspergilloma.

Symptoms of allergic aspergillosis may include:

• Fever
• Malaise
• Cough
• Coughing up blood or brownish mucous plugs
• Wheezing
• Weight loss
• Recurrent episodes of lung obstruction

• Chills
• Headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Increased sputum production, which may be bloody
• Bone pain
• Blood in the urine
• Decreased urine output
• Meningitis
• Vision problems
• Sinusitis
• Endocarditis

Tests to diagnose aspergillosis infection may include:

• Chest x-ray
• CT scan
• Sputum stain and culture for Aspergillus
• Tissue biopsy (see bronchoscopy with transtracheal biopsy)
• Aspergillus antigen skin test
• Aspergillosis precipitin antibody
• Complete blood count