Chronic cough, wheezing and dyspnea: bronchiectasis and aspergillosis
Modesto dos Santos, Vitorino; Aires Teixeira, Christiane; Passini Soares, Viviane Vieira; da Cruz Silva, Samuel Abner; Lemes Duarte, Mayza
2017, Number 3
2017; 76 (3)
ABSTRACT
A 76-year-old woman with antecedent of bronchiectasis and productive cough during four months was admitted because of worsening of cough six hours ago. She had been under prolonged broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy without improvement. During admission the chest images and laboratory evaluations established the diagnosis of lung aspergillosis. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis manifests as cavity, fibrosis, aspergilloma or nodules. The diagnosis depends on typical pulmonary images and microscopy and culture evidence of the fungus or positivity of the specific serologic tests for Aspergillus. It is mandatory to rule out other hypothesis, in special tuberculosis. The role of galactomannan test is also commented.
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