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Candida albicans and Aspergillus
- Question
- Hello,
I would like to ask you, how you judge the result of our daughter.
Our daughter is nearly 5 years old. At the age of 4 months, she has been diagnosed to suffer from CF. She is doing well and we are very well cared for in our CF center.
Until now, throat swabs showed mostly Staph. aureus. Newly occurred now for the firs time Candia and Aspergillus.
Our CF center does not recommend a therapy at the moment, as she is doing well.
How do you judge this?
What can we do?
Would you recommend a respective therapy?
Many thanks for your answer. - Answer
- Hello,
it is good that your daughter is doing clinically well! As the illness of CF has been diagnosed at the age of 4 months, she will have had very early Staphylococcus aureus on the bronchial mucosa. Therefore, she will have had already many antibiotic cycles, probably she is also right now under antibiotic treatment.
If now yeast fungi (candida albicans) and also mould fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus) are found in the throat swab, this is mostly a minor germ finding, without that your daughter is really affected by this. Yest fungi and mould fungi are often the consequence of a longer lasting antibiotic treatment, that is for sure necessary. The balance between bacterial and fungal growth on the mucosa is then impaired. Bacteria and fungi are part of our mouth and throat flora.
It should be made sure, however, that there are no flower pots in the sleeping room of the child and that the appartment or house is not lumbered with flower pots. Of course the walls have to be dry and also the bathroom and the basement.
This I take for granted.
A targeted therapy against mould and yeast fungi is not indicated at all.
There is no need for action in case of this result.
However one should check the for CF discussed hygiene.
These finding of fungi will accompany the child for a long time. In case there is a longer period without antibiotic treament, then these results of fungi will disappear temporarily. It is always important: is the child doing well and does it not have increased bronchial reactions? And are there not any uncommon findings seen in the x-ray of the thorax?
Therefore no therapy!
Dr. H.-E. Heuer - 20.10.2014
