Key messages for public

Links between:

• 'bad asthma' and 'fungal allergy'
• 'headache' and 'fungal meningitis' (of particular importance in Africa, South America and SE Asia),
• 'hair loss in patches' and 'fungal disease of the scalp' [tinea capitis, especially common in black children]
• 'eye infection' and 'fungi' (an important connection in agricultural workers and contact lens wearers).

Key messages for healthcare professionals

Links between:

• Fungal allergy (sensitisation) in severe asthma is treatable with antifungals
• Consider and test for fungal disease patients with antibiotic resistant infections early
• Rapid diagnostic tests are now available for aspergillosis and cryptococcal meningitis
• Upper lobe cavitation on chest Xray may be aspergillosis not TB and treatable with oral antifungals.
• Ask a specialist early, some fungal infections are complex to diagnose and treat.