Lung congestion

[Teeney]

I have been having lung congestion for several years and I asked my doctor for a sputum analysis. It came back that I have penicillium species (mold) in my lungs. He indicated that he had no remedy other than a very toxic medication and he recommended not giving it to me but just to keep taking Advair which only works marginally. If you have any recommendations to clear this out of my lungs I would be grateful.

Thanks

[National Jewish Health]

Penicillium species have been implicated, as causative, in an allergic lung condition called hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP).  It has been reported to cause this illness in cork workers, cheese workers, laboratory workers, farmers, tree cutters, workers in a peat moss processing plant and in workers exposed to other agricultural dusts.  The most effective treatment is removal of the worker, permanently, from the work site.  Treatment with high dose corticosteroids, especially in the acute phase, can also be effective.  You and your doctor, possibly with the assistance of an industrial hygienist, should look to your home and work sites, as a possible source of the Penicillium.

It can also cause lung infection, as opposed to allergy, in individuals whose immune system is compromised resulting in an acquired immunodeficiency state of which there are several.  You might wish to discuss this, and the information on HP, above, with your doctor or with a lung specialist, also known as a pulmonologist, and/or an infectious disease specialist.

Good luck.

[otohara]

N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) is an amino acid used in Europe to treat bronchitis.  1,200 mg per day -  you should also take zinc & copper when taking high doses of NAC and drink lots of water.  Health food stores carry NAC