Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA)

Why in News?

Recently, a new research has identified a Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA) in tuberculosis survivors among Assam’s tea plantation workers.

• CPA – It is a serious and long-term fungal infection that affects the lungs.
• Caused by – Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus that strikes individuals with immunodeficiency.
• Conditions – It is a chronic lung disease that occurs commonly in pre-existing lung cavities.
• Poverty, poor nutrition, kitchen smoke, close contact with smear-positive patients and living in congested environments.
• Risk factors – It mostly occurs in,
  • Post-Tuberculosis (TB) or active TB patients.
  • People with weakened immune system or
  • Lung diseases.
• Transmission – It is not a contagious disease.
• It can’t be passed from person to person.

According to the National Tuberculosis (TB) Prevalence Survey 2019-2021, TB has been a major public health issue across the tea belts in Assam’s Brahmaputra and Barak valleys, afflicting 217 per 1,00,000 population.

• Incubation period – 3 months or more.
• Symptoms – Chronic cough, haemoptysis (coughing blood), weight loss or fatigue and other respiratory.
• Impact – It causes severe bleeding in the lungs, which lead to be fatal.
• Treatment – It vary depending on the severity of symptoms and any underlying conditions.

Using advanced serological testing and radiological imaging, the researchers recorded a CPA prevalence of 17.18% in the year-long study and seropositivity was 18.5% in active TB patients but spiked to 48.9% in those who had completed treatment.

References

1. The Hindu| Assam’s tea workers prone to Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA)
2. Healthline| Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA)