Misdiagnosis of persistent asthma of a patient suffering from acute bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Yousef S. Abuzneid; Sadi A. Abukhalaf; Arein Madia; Naser Amro; Mohammad Kharraz; Yasmine Yaghi; Nataly Salhab
- Source
- Annals of Medicine and Surgery
- Subject
- medicine.medical_specialty
Lung
Bronchiectasis
Acute bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
biology
medicine.diagnostic_test
business.industry
Physical examination
General Medicine
medicine.disease
biology.organism_classification
Dermatology
Asthma
Aspergillus fumigatus
medicine.anatomical_structure
Immune system
Case report
medicine
Surgery
Medical history
Immune response
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
business
- Language
- ISSN
- 2049-0801
Background Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a condition characterized by an exaggerated immune response (a hypersensitivity response) to the fungus Aspergillus (most commonly Aspergillus fumigatus). ABPA causes airway inflammation that if left untreated can lead to bronchiectasis (an abnormal dilation of the airways) due to the immune system and fungal spores damaging sensitive lung tissues and ultimately leading to scarring. Case presentation We present a case of a 32-year-old female patient who was misdiagnosed with persistent asthma and treated accordingly for several months until a reexamination was done and a diagnosis of ABPA was concluded. Treatment was altered which led to the successful recovery of the patient. Conclusion A reevaluation of the patients’ condition was needed to arrive to the correct diagnosis and to put her on the correct treatment as an ABPA patient instead of persistent asthma, concluding that the medical history and physical examination are both of vital significance to stipulate a correct diagnosis.
Highlights • Acute bronchopulmonary aspergillosis can be misdiagnosed for other conditions such cystic fibrosis or asthma. • Careful history taking, meticulous physical examination, and investigations are necessary. • Prompt treatment should be address in a proper way to kill the fungus.