Aspergillus mould allergy
Allergy to Aspergillus mould.
About aspergillus mould allergy
Aspergillus is a widespread mould found in soil, compost, decaying vegetation, stored food and damp indoor surfaces. It sheds spores all year round, with indoor exposure often peaking where there is damp, poor ventilation or rotting organic matter. In people who are sensitised, inhaled Aspergillus proteins provoke an IgE-mediated allergic reaction. Simple inhalant allergy to Aspergillus is only one part of the picture: in people with asthma or cystic fibrosis it can occasionally cause a more complex lung condition called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, which needs specialist care and is different from ordinary hay-fever-type symptoms.
Most people with straightforward Aspergillus allergy experience allergic rhinitis, with sneezing, nasal congestion and itchy eyes, and it can act as a trigger for asthma symptoms such as cough and wheeze. Reactions are usually not life-threatening, but anyone with asthma or a chronic lung condition who notices worsening breathing, repeated chest infections or coughing up mucus plugs should be assessed, as this may point to the more serious form.
Reducing exposure means controlling indoor damp and mould, cleaning affected surfaces, ventilating bathrooms and kitchens, and taking care around compost and stored grain or hay. Diagnosis uses skin-prick or specific-IgE tests, sometimes with further lung and blood tests if a complication is suspected. Everyday allergy is managed with antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays, while asthma control is optimised alongside; immunotherapy has a limited role here. See a GP promptly if breathing symptoms change or worsen.
Common triggers
- Aspergillus mould and products containing it
Symptoms
- Sneezing and a runny or blocked nose
- Itchy, red or watery eyes
- Itchy throat, nose or ears
- Coughing or wheezing
- Worsening of asthma
Avoidance & management
- Reduce exposure to the trigger where possible
- Keep windows closed during high-exposure periods
- Use air filtration and wash bedding regularly
- Shower and change clothes after exposure
- Use prescribed antihistamines, nasal sprays or preventers
Sources & references
Allergy safety: what everyone should know
Mild-to-moderate reaction signs
- Itching, hives or a raised rash
- Swelling of lips, face or eyes
- Tingling mouth, sneezing, runny nose
- Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
Anaphylaxis — call 999 (UK) or 112 (EU) immediately
- Difficult or noisy breathing, wheeze, persistent cough
- Swelling of the tongue or tightness in the throat
- Dizziness, collapse, pale and floppy (young children)
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen) at once if prescribed, then call an ambulance even if symptoms improve
Allergy or intolerance? A true allergy involves the immune system and can escalate quickly; an intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance) is unpleasant but not life-threatening. The symptoms overlap, so self-diagnosis is unreliable.
Getting tested: home-testing kits based on IgG are not diagnostically valid. If you suspect an allergy, ask a GP for referral to an allergy clinic for skin-prick or specific-IgE testing and a supervised food challenge where appropriate.