aspergillosis /as′pərjilō″sis/ [L, aspergere, to sprinkle; Gk, osis, condition] , a relatively uncommon infection, growth, or allergic response caused by inhalation of a fungus of the genus Aspergillus that can cause inflammatory, granulomatous lesions on or in any organ. There are several forms of aspergillosis. Pulmonary aspergillosis is divided into two types: allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (an allergic reaction to the fungus that develops with asthma) and invasive aspergillosis (a serious infection with pneumonia, most often seen in immunosuppressed people already weakened by some other disorder). Topical fungicides can be used on the skin; amphotericin B is used to treat systemic aspergillosis, especially if it has spread to the lungs. Surgery may be required to remove an aspergilloma, a fungus ball that develops if bleeding occurs in an area of the lung previously diseased. The prognosis, as for most systemic fungal infections, is poor. Compare allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
