ABPA and Asthma

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) ¹ is an allergic condition that happens when you have sensitive reactions to molds or fungi. The reaction is hyperresponsive and often occurs in people with already overly reactive or sensitive systems like asthma or cystic fibrosis (CF). When you have ABPA, your body views the mold and fungus as foreign or harmful invaders. Your immune system produces responses to protect you from them. As a result of these responses, you experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Productive cough
• Wheezing
• Breathlessness
• Symptoms that worsen with seasonal changes

The Connection between ABPA and Asthma

Having asthma puts you at a slightly higher risk of having ABPA. The reason for this is because both ABPA and asthma affect your airways and lungs. Your airways and lungs contain different tissues and nerves. With ABPA, the repeated exposure ² to different molds and fungi damages the tissues and nerves in your airways and lungs. The damage contributes to airway obstruction and causes breathing troubles.

Consult with your healthcare provider about your ABPA. In severe cases, your healthcare provider may need to monitor you for worsening lung damage. The good news is that the airway obstruction in most ABPA cases is reversible. So, your symptoms can and will resolve. Anti-fungal medications help with your reaction to the fungus and molds. Asthma therapies, like inhaled corticosteroids, relieve your airway obstruction. If you experience these conditions comorbidly, your healthcare provider may recommend that you use your asthma therapy with an anti-fungal medication for relief.