Vietnam carries the 5th chronic mushroom burden in the world
On February 28, the Central Lung Hospital organized the 6th scientific workshop on "2025 Global Funger Day" in response to the celebration of "World Aspergillosis Control Day" and aimed to update knowledge on diagnosis and treatment of lung fungus for the team of doctors working at medical facilities nationwide.
Sharing with reporters, Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, Director of the Center for Treatment of Rare Lung Diseases and Respiratory Infections, Central Lung Hospital, said that the estimated rate of chronic fungal infections in Vietnam is over 155,000 cases, but the actual detection number is extremely small. In 2024 alone, the Central Lung Hospital recorded more than 700 cases of lung fungal infections, an increase compared to previous years.
Lung fungus is a disease with a mortality rate of up to 50%, difficult to detect for both patients and medical staff. If not screened and detected early for timely treatment, the risk of serious illness and death is very high.
Lung fungus is a lung infection, rare in ordinary people with good resistance. The disease is common in people with weakened immune systems, old age, and chronic diseases for a long time.
"People who have had chronic lung disease, lung tuberculosis, acidosis in the lungs, lung surgery, lung cancer patients who have received chemotherapy, radiotherapy... are at higher risk of chronic lung fungus," said Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc.
In Vietnam, there are currently no specific data on Aspergillus lung disease. However, about 50% of patients have had tuberculosis and have come to a respiratory facilities for Aspergillus lung fungus. Vietnam is also the country with the 5th largest chronic mycorta burden in the world with over 55,000 cases.
According to medical experts, lung fungus is a lung infection, rare in normal people with good resistance. The disease is common in people with weakened immune systems, old age, and chronic diseases for a long time.
The rate of lung disease only accounts for 0.02% of lung diseases, however, when suffering from lung disease, the cost of treatment is very high, the disease has not been paid by health insurance, especially if not detected and treated promptly, the mortality rate is also very high.
Difficult diagnosis, often mistaken for tuberculosis
According to research, currently diagnosing lung disease is still facing many difficulties. In the world, for every 10 cases diagnosed with lung cancer, 1 chronic lung infection is mistaken for tuberculosis. That is because the image of a lung infection is very similar to tuberculosis, with unclear signs of fungal infection, similar to respiratory diseases or tuberculosis.
In many places, doctors and nurses have not thought about this dangerous disease to have a correct diagnosis. Many mushroom diagnosis tests are not sensitive, not specific, many tests are not available in many places around the world...
In the world, the survival rate of patients after 1 year, 5 years, 10 years is 86%, 62%, 47%. The rate of chronic lung fungal infections in newly developed tuberculosis patients was 14% and the treated tuberculosis was 56%. Many countries do not have enough resources for diagnosis and treatment.
Currently, diagnosing fungal infections is still facing many difficulties regarding clinical suspectations and the necessary tests to diagnose the disease. Doctors and health care workers need to be trained to consider fungal infections and often have unclear clinical manifestations. Many vaccine-based, non-specific fungal tests are not available in many places around the world.
According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, to prevent lung disease, people need to keep their home hygienic, avoid mold, regularly exercise, eat a lot of fresh fruits, and increase resistance. If you have to work in an environment with many mushrooms like gardeners, you need to wear a mask to limit inhaling mushroom Inhibition in the environment. People need to be vaccinated against influenza and whooping cough to reduce the risk of chronic infections in the lungs, thereby reducing the risk of fungal infections.
Avoid leaving mold in the house, furniture neatly arranged, enough sunlight, ventilation to avoid moisture. When cleaning the house, wear a mask to avoid inhaling mushroom dust.
