Long-Term Antifungal Treatment in a Patient With Confirmed Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis

An allergic reaction to infections with Aspergillus fumigatus causes allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). This response often can worsen underlying symptoms of previously well-controlled diseases, such as asthma or cystic fibrosis. Due to the nature of the symptoms, patients with ABPA are often regarded as just having worsening asthma control or are treated for a different disease entirely. Even when diagnosed, the treatment is often formulaic and not tailored to the patient directly. This report will discuss the case of a 63-year-old man with a background of asthma who presented with recurrent chest infections, in which treatment with antibiotics and steroids did not resolve his symptoms. A diagnosis of ABPA was made following investigations, which has led to better control of his symptoms on long-term antifungal treatment.