Definition of Aspergillosis:

Aspergillosis is an infection, growth, or allergic response due to the Aspergillus fungus.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

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 people who already had lung problems (such as asthma or cystic fibrosis).
• 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 lower the number of normal white blood cells.