Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis

28.01.2025

Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Why in the news?                        

         Recently, a new research paper has identified a life-threatening fungal infection called chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), mostly in the damaged lungs of tuberculosis survivors among Assam’s tea plantation workers.

About Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis:

• It is an infection caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus that strikes individuals with immunodeficiency.
• It is a chronic lung disease that occurs commonly in pre-existing lung cavities.
• It mostly occurs in post-TB or active TB patients and shares similar clinical features with tuberculosis.
• It is not contagious, meaning it cannot be passed from person to person.

Symptoms of the disease:

• It doesn’t always cause symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do occur, they can vary from person to person. The most common symptom of CPA is coughing up blood.
• Other symptoms can include: unintentional weight loss, fatigue, shortness of breath, wheezing, etc.

Treatment of the disease:

• Antifungal medications are the most common treatment for CPA.
• Surgery is an option to remove the fungal mass.

About Aspergillus:

• Aspergillus species are filamentous fungi that are commonly found in soil, decaying vegetation, and seeds and grains, where they thrive as saprophytes.
• They are found in a wide variety of environments and substrates on the Earth throughout the year.
• Only a few well-known species are considered as important opportunistic pathogens in humans.

                                                                Source: Indian Express

Consider the following statements regarding the Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis:

Statement-I: It is a chronic lung disease that occurs commonly in pre-existing lung cavities.

Statement-II: It is caused by bacteria and can be passed from person to person.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.

D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Answer C