Everyone Healthy Library
Fungal Pneumonia
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
Connected health information
Explore this condition in a clear order
Linked signs and symptoms
8Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
Linked drugs / medications
1Medication information is educational only. A doctor or pharmacist should advise whether any medicine is appropriate.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
12Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Medical therapy
4Alternative and complementary therapies
2Alternative medicine
2Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
19These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Carbon Dioxide Total Content (TCO2)
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)
- Fibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products, FSPs, Fibrin Breakdown Products, Fbps)
- Fibrinogen Concentration test
- haptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Inspiratory Capacity (IC)
- Partial Pressure of Arterial Carbon Dioxide (PCO2, PaCO2)
- Partial Pressure of Oxygen (PO2)
- Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Residual Volume (RV)
- Spirometry
- Total Lung Capacity (TLC)
- Urine glucose concentration
- Urine Sodium Quantitative (24hr)
- Vital Capacity (VC)
- White Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Biological and test markers
22This visual map uses existing EH database links to show biological agents and lab markers reported as increased, decreased, or associated with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
14- Alpha-1 Antintrypsin (AAT)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–215 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Alpha-1-Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.1–0.3 gm/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Alpha-2-Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.6–1 gm/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Carbon Dioxide Total Content (TCO2)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 20–27 mEq/L; Newborn (0 - 1month): 13–21 mEq/LLinked diagnostic tests1Carbon Dioxide Total Content (TCO2)
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Total ProteinReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 15–45 mg/dL; Child (< 10y): 15–70 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation RateReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0–20 mm/Hr; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0–15 mm/HrLinked diagnostic tests1erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- Fibrin Split ProductsReference range exampleAll: 0–1 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Fibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products
- FibrinogenReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 150–400 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Fibrinogen Concentration test
- Gamma Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.8–1.7 gm/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- haptoglobin (Hp)Reference range example45–200 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1haptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Partial Pressure of Arterial Carbon Dioxide (PaCO2)Reference range exampleAll: 35–45 mm HgLinked diagnostic tests1Partial Pressure of Arterial Carbon Dioxide (PCO2, PaCO2)
- Urine glucoseReference range example0–2.5; Adult ( > 16y): 0–2.5 mmol/dayLinked diagnostic tests1Urine glucose concentration
- Urine SodiumReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 41–115 mmol/day; Adult ( > 16y): 40–220 mmol/dayLinked diagnostic tests1Urine Sodium Quantitative (24hr)
- White Blood Cell (WBC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 4.5–10.5 million/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 3.2–10 million/mLLinked diagnostic tests1White Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Often decreased
8- Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 850–1,300 mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 1,000–1,500 mLLinked diagnostic tests1Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)
- Forced Expiratory Flow Between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF25-75)Reference range exampleAll: 60–100 %Linked diagnostic tests1Spirometry
- Glucose (Cerebrospinal Fluid)Reference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 65–85 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y): 50–72 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Cerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- Inspiratory Capacity (IC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 2,600–3,200 mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 3,000–3,500 mLLinked diagnostic tests1Inspiratory Capacity (IC)
- Partial Pressure of Arterial Oxygen (PaO2)Reference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 80–100 mm Hg; Newborn (0 - 1month): 60–70 mm HgLinked diagnostic tests1Partial Pressure of Oxygen (PO2)
- Residual Volume (RV)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 1,200–1,600 mL; Adult ( > 16y), Female: 850–1,300 mLLinked diagnostic tests2Postvoid Residual Volume Test, Residual Volume (RV)
- Total Lung Capacity (TLC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 4,600–5,200 mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 5,800–6,200 mLLinked diagnostic tests1Total Lung Capacity (TLC)
- Vital Capacity (VC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 3,500–4,000 mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 4,500–5,000 mLLinked diagnostic tests1Vital Capacity (VC)
Other associated markers
0No markers in this group.
Introduction / full article
Fungal Pneumonia
Fungal pneumonia
This is an infection in the lungs. Fungal Pneumonia is caused by inhalation of fungi. Those at higher risk of developing fungal pneumonia can be found in areas with heavy populations of birds, rodents, and bats, among others animals. When the spores or seeds of endemic or opportunistic fungi are inhaled in can cause Fungal Pneumonia, especially to those who have weak immune system. Fungal Pneumonia can also be caused by an existing infection that travels through the bloodstream to the lungs. People who are healthier have the capacity to reverse the effect of Fungal Pneumonia. The best way to fight this disease is to maintain a healthy immune system.
Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:
Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP) [3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Warning! All parts of the plant, Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana), is poisonous and should not be ingested. Thoroughly cooking the plant reduces that toxicity. The effects of the improperly prepared plant include vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps, headache, confusion, convulstions, low blood pressure, heart block and death. Only plant extracts (PAP) or thoroughly prepared plants should be ingested, and even then, under professional medical guidance.
Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that PAP helps to treat fungal infections)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Pau D'Arco (Lapachol, Tabebuia Impetiginosa, Tabebuia Heptaphylla) [3, 4]:
Please note, this treatment has potentially serious side effects. Some of the chemicals in the plant are known to be toxic. High doses are known to cause liver and kidney. Even at low doses, chemicals in the plant may interfere with blood clotting, causing excess bleeding and anaemia. Pau D'Arco should be avoided, especially by pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Recommendation: Strongly against (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Pau D'arco helps to treat fungal infections. This, combined with its potentially harmful side effects if taken without supervision from a doctor or pharmacist gives enough reason to avoid this treatment.)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
* www.gradeworkinggroup.org
Summary Reference
Treatments:
1. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec05/ch052/ch052c.html?qt=fungal%20pneumonia&alt=sh
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16908618?dopt=Abstract
3. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009
4. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pau-d-arco
5. http://www.cbif.gc.ca/pls/pp/ppack.info?p_psn=12&p_type=all&p_sci=sci&p_x=px
6. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Phytolacca+americana
7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/315368
8. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002874.htm
9. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pokeweed