Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in a tertiary tuberculosis institute: A common entity missed commonly.

The disease chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), which has 3 million cases globally, has a substantial impact on global health. The morbidity and mortality it cause are also rather severe. Patients with modest immune suppression or those with underlying structural and chronic lung illnesses are more likely to develop this condition. CPA pose a diagnostic and management challenge to clinicians. The condition causes patients to have persistent respiratory difficulties, which lowers their quality of life, and the therapy is lengthy and offers few choices. Particularly in a nation like India, where tuberculosis (TB) is prevalent and patients exhibit identical signs and symptoms, a strong index of suspicion is required. Treated pulmonary TB patients, presenting with symptoms or chest x-ray abnormalities, especially those with presence of cavity are also more prone to develop CPA. The constellation of symptoms together with presence of microbiological criteria and suggestive radiology can help to reach at the diagnosis. The field of mycology has made major developments, but there is still much to understand about this illness and to establish timely diagnoses and make the best use of the existing treatment choices. The burden of CPA in patients with treated TB is highlighted in this article along with the most recent research and clinical guidelines.