Green fungus or Aspergillosis is an infection caused by Aspergillus, a common mold (a type of fungus) that lives indoors and outdoors, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report. Most people breathe in Aspergillus spores every day without getting sick. However, people with weakened immune systems or lung diseases are at a higher risk of developing health problems due to Aspergillus. The types of health problems caused by Aspergillus include allergic reactions, lung infections, and infections in other organs.

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Early symptoms 

Symptoms of some fungal diseases can be similar to those of COVID-19, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. However, laboratory testing is necessary to determine if a person has a fungal infection or COVID-19. As per the CDC, some patients can have COVID-19 and fungal infections at the same time. 

The different types of Aspergillosis can cause different symptoms. The symptoms of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) are similar to asthma symptoms, including wheezing, shortness of breath, cough, fever (in rare cases). The symptoms of allergic Aspergillus (sinusitis) 2 include stuffiness, runny nose, headache, reduced ability to smell. Then the symptoms of an aspergilloma (fungus ball) 3 include cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath. 

Causes 

“Mucormycosis is one of the general fungal infections being seen in recovering or recovered COVID-19 patients. The number of cases being reported is increasing, but it is not a communicable disease, meaning it does not spread from one person to another like COVID-19 does,” Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS earlier mentioned. 

He had also mentioned that labeling the same fungus with names of different colors can create confusion. Mucormycosis is not a communicable disease, unlike COVID19. 90-95 per cent of patients getting infected are found to have been either diabetic and/or taking steroids. 

Prevention 

It’s difficult to avoid breathing in Aspergillus spores because the fungus is common in the environment. For people who have weakened immune systems, there may be some ways to lower the chances of developing a severe Aspergillus infection. Protect yourself from the environment. It’s important to note that although these actions are recommended, they haven’t been proven to prevent aspergillosis. 

Try to avoid areas with a lot of dust like construction or excavation sites. If you can’t avoid these areas, wear an N95 respirator (a type of face mask) while you’re there. Wear gloves when handling materials such as soil, moss, or manure. To reduce the chances of developing a skin infection, clean skin injuries well with soap and water, especially if they have been exposed to soil or dust. 

Some high-risk patients may benefit from blood tests to detect invasive aspergillosis. Talk to your doctor to determine if this type of test is right for you.