Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) – Asthma on the tip of iceberg

• Author Details:   
• Harshpreet Singh Tuteja
• Sourya Acharya
• Samarth Shukla

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Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) is one of the rare presentations of fungus Aspergillus fumigatus.  Apart from ABPA two other manifestations are aspergilloma and aspergillus asthma. ABPA classically presents as central bronchiectasis which is not seen in asthma. We present a case of ABPA masquerading as chronic asthma. This case highlights on the bizarre presentations of ABPA. Weather it presents primarily with symptoms of asthma, or it can present itself superimposed on clinical asthma. The dilemma begins when ABPA presents with asthma without any radiologic evidence. Usually these cases are initially treated as asthma only, later on when the symptoms are not improved with proper asthma therapy and/or till they develop radiologic abnormality.

Keywords: ABPA; Aspergilloma; Asthma; Radiologic