Re: Emailing: Aspergillosis...many of us have this:

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And, it's a bear to fight . . . One must stay on top of all fungal infections until beneficial organisms can recolonize to a level where the body can take care of itself. And . . . No SUGAR . . . Sugar feeds negative organisms. Rogene Lea <devans@...> wrote: Lessons | Drugs | Forums | Blogs | Cool Tools News | Reading List | Search | About Us | Home sign up for our email newsletter: POZ.com | POZ Mentor POZ Personals Aspergillosis What is it? Aspergillosis is a fungal infection. It can occur in people with healthy or suppressed immune systems. In people with healthy immune systems, it usually causes mild or moderate lung problems. In people with suppressed immune systems, aspergillosis can cause serious lung problems and can also spread to other organs, including the kidneys, liver, skin, bones, and brain. Because these more severe forms of aspergillosis can be life

threatening, it is important to diagnose and treat this infection quickly. Aspergillosis is rare among HIV-positive people, even more so now that combination anti-HIV therapy is available. It is most common among people who have neutropenia – a low level of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. This type of immune suppression usually isn't seen in people with HIV. It usually occurs in patients being treated for cancer or with powerful immune-suppressing drugs after receiving an organ transplant. Aspergillosis is caused by Aspergillus, a group of fungi. It is very difficult to avoid these fungi, as they are found throughout the environment. Aspergillus can be found in soil, decomposing plants, household dust, building materials, ornamental plants, food, and water. Dirt, dust, or other materials containing Aspergillus can easily travel through the air and be inhaled into the lungs. People who smoke marijuana, which can contain

Aspergillus spores, may be at an increased risk of developing aspergillosis. What are the symptoms? The most common symptoms of aspergillosis are pain in this sinuses, nose, or ear canal; facial swelling; cough and difficulty breathing; chest pain; and fever and night sweats. How is it diagnosed? Because there are many infections that can cause the symptoms associated with aspergillosis, a healthcare provider will most likely order an x-ray or CT scan to look at the lungs. Aspergillosis usually results in noticeable lesions – called "fungus balls" – in the lungs that can be seen by trained medical experts. From there, it is sometimes necessary to collect fluid or tissue from the lungs in order to confirm the diagnosis. How is it treated? A number of treatments have been tested for the treatment of aspergillosis, although not all of these treatments have been studied in

patients with AIDS-related aspergillosis: Voriconazole (Vfend®): The preferred treatment for aspergillosis is voriconazole, a medication that is administered through an intravenous (IV) line for at least a week, followed by oral doses of the medication. Rash is the most common side effect. Voriconazole can also interact with numerous other medications. Amphotericin B (Fungizone®): An alternative to voriconazole is amphotericin B. This drug is administered through an IV line. Liposomal formulations of amphotericin B – which attach the drug to microscopic spheres of fat – are a possibility (but are not

officially approved for the treatment of aspergillosis), as they have been shown to be just as effective and somewhat less toxic than standard amphotericin B for the treatment of several types of fungal infections. Liposomal formulations include Abelcet®, Amphotec®, and AmBisome®. Caspofungin (Cancidas®): Caspofungin is approved for the treatment of aspergillosis in patients who do not successfully respond to either voriconazole or amphotericin B. Like voriconazole and amphotericin B, it is administered through an IV line and shares many of the same side effects. In the past, many HIV-positive patients who were diagnosed with aspergillosis – even if they received treatment for the infection – didn't live much longer than six months. Today, provided that

the immune system can be boosted using combination anti-HIV therapy, the prognosis has greatly improved. Survival rates after being diagnosed with aspergillosis can now be measured in years, not weeks or months. Can it be prevented? There is no guaranteed way to prevent aspergillosis from occurring, given that Aspergillus is found throughout the environment. Aspergillosis is more likely to occur in HIV-positive people with compromised immune systems (less than 50 T-cells). Thus, one way to help prevent aspergillosis from occurring is the keep the immune system healthy, such as by using anti-HIV drugs, reducing stress, eating right, and getting plenty of rest. Are there any experimental treatments in development for aspergillosis? Some new antibiotics are being evaluated for the treatment of aspergillosis. However, very few are being studied specifically in HIV-positive people, given the small number of

HIV-positive people who are diagnosed with this infection. If clinical trials for HIV-positive patients with aspergillosis are being conducted, they will most likely be listed on an interactive web site run by ACRIA, the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America. Another useful service for finding clinical trials is AIDSinfo.nih.gov, a site run by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. They have "health information specialists" you can talk to at their toll-free number at 1-800-HIV-0440 (1-800-448-0440). Last Revised: 9/19/05 This content is written by the Founder & Writers of AIDSmeds.com, and reviewed by Dr. Grossman, our Medical

Editor.Please find profiles of this writing team on our "About Us" page. © 2006 Smart + Strong. . terms of use and your privacy