Fungal infections of lungs the emerging scenario.

ABSTRACT

Fungal infections of lungs are important infective processes which are being encountered more and more often in today’s practice. Fortunately, we only encounter a few of these pathogenic fungi. With more and more people undergoing organ transplantation and cytotoxic therapy, chances of encountering these diseases are steadily increasing. Though treatment is difficult, nevertheless, the results are encouraging. Hence, it is all the more important today to know these diseases well so that we are able to manage them scientifically. Diseases like ABPA, if diagnosed early, can be treated effectively so as to prevent progression to fibrotic stage and reduce the number of respiratory cripples. Invasive systemic mycosis is also amenable to multimodal therapy. With advent of newer imidazoles and newer modalities of drug delivery like liposomal amphotericin B, the so called complicated treatment modalities can be further simplified. Prophylaxis is today available for preventing PCP in immunocompromised patients and they need to adhere to prophylaxis.