Aspergillus fumigatus is being increasingly recognised as causing various pathological conditions in man, animals and birds. In man the use of
antibiotics has increased the importance of fungi in various clinical situations as opportunistic infective agents. In man, cavities in the lung are often (20 per cent) colonised by Aspergillus species, nearly always A. fumigatus. The
mycetoma so formed can be specifically diagnosed by finding precipitating
antibodies to A. fumigatus in the serum. In an
asthma clinic, the findings of an immediate positive prick skin test to A. fumigatus, with or without precipitating
antibodies to the fungus, confirms the diagnosis of
pulmonary aspergillosis. These asthmatic patients develop transient lung infiltrations and proximal
bronchiectasis, so that they eventually develop some degree of irreversible airways obstruction. Except for a small number of old patients, there are usually multiple positive type I skin responses to other inhalant
allergens which will include other aspergilli species. Basically the complaint is a complication of allergic
asthma. When first seen the patients often have treated with repeated courses of
antibiotics for presumed infective
asthma. Some of the findings in 86 asthmatic patients suffering from
pulmonary aspergillosis will be presented.