Fungal lung infections can cause symptoms similar to the flu or respiratory illnesses, including cough, fever, joint/muscle pain, chest pain, and night sweats. Some infections may not cause obvious symptoms, and diagnosis is typically made through X-rays or CT scans. Different types of fungal infections may cause slightly different symptoms.
The symptoms of a fungal lung infection are often similar to those of the flu or another type of respiratory illness. Typically, a person with a fungal infection of the lungs will experience symptoms such as a cough, headache, fever, and joint or muscle pain, or both. Sometimes, an infection also causes chest pain, chills, and night sweats. Some people can even develop rashes. The symptoms a person has typically depend on the type of fungal infection they have developed.
It’s important to note that a fungal infection of the lungs may not always cause obvious physical symptoms. In fact, when a person has a mild case, they may not become aware of the infection until seen on an X-ray. When the condition progresses to a more severe case of infection, however, an individual is more likely to show signs.
In many cases, the symptoms of a fungal infection resemble those of the flu or another serious type of respiratory infection. A person with this condition may have a fever and severe cough, as well as headaches, night sweats, and hoarseness. Fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and joint and chest pain are also among the symptoms a person can develop.
The exact symptoms a person has with a fungal lung infection may depend on the fungus that caused it. One type of fungal infection is called coccidiomycosis and causes a cough that may be bloody, difficulty breathing, chills, chest pain, and pain in the muscles and joints. This particular infection can also cause a rash to appear on the affected person’s legs.
Another type of infection is called histoplasmosis and typically causes slightly different symptoms than coccidiomycosis. When an individual has this fungal infection of the lungs, they may have a dry or mucus-producing cough. You may also experience hoarseness, chest pain, and joint pain. Weight loss and night sweats may also develop. Often, people with this condition also have a fever.
Aspergillus is another type of fungal infection that can affect the lungs. It typically causes symptoms similar to those of both histoplasmosis and coccidiomycosis. This condition causes a cough, which may produce blood, as well as chest pain and difficulty breathing. Headaches, fever, and night sweats may develop.
Because the symptoms of various types of lung infections are so similar, medical professionals typically use X-rays to tell them apart. They may also use computed tomography (CT) scans in diagnosing patients. When possible, they may also take samples of the organisms that have caused the infection and examine them to make a diagnosis.
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