How do people contract Aspergillus diseases?
Aspergillus spores are found everywhere in the environment including the air we breathe. The spores can therefore enter everyone’s lungs and can also enter wounds. This is how all Aspergillus diseases are contracted, although the underlying reasons for the different types of Aspergillus diseases differ. Invasive aspergillosis occurs almost exclusively in people with a damaged immune system. Most people’s natural immunity to Aspergillus means that they easily kill Aspergillus spores that enter their body. However, if someone has a damaged immune system, (for example due to leukaemia) they lose their natural protection and may develop invasive aspergillosis. Aspergilloma, sinus disease and ABPA often occur in people with an apparently healthy immune system. Individuals with ABPA are allergic to the Aspergillus spores that enter their lungs and they “overreact” to small numbers of Aspergillus spores that most people happily tolerate. This may happen with sinus disease as well. Normally, i
