To prevent lung fungus, doctors recommend that people maintain a dry, cool living environment to minimize the growth of mold.
Medical news March 3: Be alert to mold-induced lung disease
To prevent lung fungus, doctors recommend that people maintain a dry, cool living environment to minimize the growth of mold.
Mold disease develops silently but is very dangerous.
Pulmonary fungal disease, especially caused by Aspergillus, is a serious disease that progresses silently and can be fatal if not detected and treated promptly.
In Vietnam, about 50% of patients who have had tuberculosis, when re-examined at respiratory clinics, have pulmonary fungus caused by Aspergillus.
According to the Global Action on Fungal Infections (GAFFI), fungal infections are now responsible for more than 4 million deaths each year globally, making it one of the leading causes of death, surpassing tuberculosis and malaria.
Pulmonary aspergillosis is a rare form of lung infection in immunocompetent people, but is very common in people with chronic lung disease or a weakened immune system. Studies show that the rate of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in treated tuberculosis patients is as high as 56%.
However, pulmonary fungal disease is often overlooked due to unclear symptoms and silent progression, leading to late detection, making treatment difficult and very expensive.
Aspergillus, a very common mold in the environment, is found both indoors and outdoors. Every time we breathe, we can inhale between 1 and 10 of these mold spores.
However, not everyone gets the disease, and the risk of getting the disease is mainly in people with chronic lung disease, weakened immune systems or those who have undergone lung surgery, lung cancer, radiation therapy, chemotherapy.
According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, Director of the Center for Rare Lung Diseases and Respiratory Infections, Central Lung Hospital, pulmonary fungal diseases develop very quietly until symptoms flare up, causing the patient to seek medical attention. Common signs include prolonged cough, coughing up blood for no apparent reason, prolonged fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing up phlegm.
Although pulmonary fungal disease accounts for a low percentage of lung diseases (only about 0.02%), when contracted, the cost of treatment is very high, especially when not covered by health insurance. If not treated promptly, the mortality rate is very high. The survival rates of patients after 1 year, 5 years and 10 years are 86%, 62% and 47% respectively.
One of the major challenges in treating pulmonary fungal infections is the difficulty in diagnosing them. Physicians and health care workers need to be well trained in the early recognition and diagnosis of fungal infections, as current tests are not highly sensitive and many are not available in many countries.
Dr. Ngoc said that pulmonary fungal disease cannot be cured completely, but can only be treated medically to prevent symptoms and the spread of fungus in the lungs. Treatment measures include the use of antifungal drugs, however, many severe cases may require surgery or interventional procedures to control the disease.
To prevent lung fungus, Dr. Ngoc recommends that people maintain a dry, airy living environment to minimize the growth of mold. When working in high-risk environments (such as gardens, rotting leaves, or places with a lot of fungi), people should wear masks to protect their health.
In addition, getting vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal disease also helps reduce the risk of lung infections. Exercising, eating well and improving resistance are also effective preventive measures.
At the Global Fungus Day 2025 Scientific Conference, experts emphasized the importance of early detection and treatment of pulmonary fungal diseases. The conference was attended by many doctors specializing in respiratory, infectious diseases, emergency resuscitation and microbiology, aiming to update knowledge on diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary fungal diseases.
Experts also recommend that medical facilities actively detect pulmonary fungal disease during the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, because this disease can cause serious complications if not treated promptly.
The burden of cancer in women and hope for treatment
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the world and in Vietnam. According to statistics from GLOBOCAN in 2022, the world recorded nearly 2.3 million new cases and 666,000 deaths from this cancer each year, with Vietnam accounting for about 24,600 new cases and more than 10,000 deaths.
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| Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, breast cancer remains a burden with poor prognosis in some patient groups. |
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Asian women, accounting for 39% of all cases worldwide.
Statistics show that up to 58% of global cancer deaths occur in Asia, with the most common and deadly cancers being lung, breast, colorectal, liver and stomach cancers. With the proportion of people aged 60 and above expected to reach 25% by 2050, the cancer burden in Asian countries is expected to increase significantly.
It is also the second leading cause of cancer death in Asian women and accounts for 39% of all breast cancer cases worldwide.
Although the incidence of breast cancer in Asia remains lower than in the West, there are signs that cases are increasing. Additionally, 2 to 25 percent of breast cancer patients in the region present with metastatic breast cancer at the onset, compared with 3 to 10 percent of patients in the United States and Europe.
According to GLOBOCAN data in 2022, breast cancer accounts for 8.3% of all cancer deaths in Vietnam each year. In recent years, the rate of early stage breast cancer detection (stage 0, 1, 2) was 76.6% compared to 52.4% in the period 2008-2010.
Experts also emphasize that if diagnosed early, the patient's 5-year survival rate can be up to 90%, and even for young patients, the 10-year survival rate in the early stages is over 80%.
In a recent breast cancer event, experts also frankly said that in reality, there are still many Vietnamese women who are not proactive in getting themselves screened for breast cancer.
Breast cancer ranks first in terms of new cases in Vietnam and the rate of patients diagnosed with stage III and IV is still high, along with the trend of breast cancer getting younger. 15% of patients under 40 years old, 45% of patients under 50 years old are diagnosed with metastatic cancer among all patients. Younger women tend to present at more advanced stages, have higher local recurrence rates and lower overall survival rates.
Despite many advances in diagnosis and treatment, breast cancer remains a burden with poor prognosis in some patient groups.
Experts also say that breast cancer is always one of the biggest challenges in modern medicine. The 5-year survival rate in patients with metastasis is only about 30%, and in patients with recurrence is only 17%.
Since 6am, nearly 100 women have been present at the Aesthetic Center, 108 Central Military Hospital waiting for screening. They all have breast defects and have gone through many tiring and exhausting months of breast cancer treatment. Today, they come here with a lot of hope.
Ms. H. (46 years old, Hanoi) is one of them. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019. Although her cancer was detected at an early stage and the doctor only needed to remove one breast and axillary lymph nodes, she still felt depressed and uncertain.
"The doctor advised me to get breast implants, but at that time I just wanted to remove all the cancer cells and didn't think much about breast reconstruction. Later, when my finances were difficult, I couldn't do it because the cost was very high," Ms. H. shared.
After a period of treatment at E Hospital and K3 Tan Trieu Hospital, when her health was stable and her children were grown, Ms. H. began to think about breast reconstruction and hoped to have the opportunity to participate in the free surgery program at 108 Central Military Hospital.
Ms. T. (31 years old, Thai Binh) was also unlucky when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2021.
After undergoing a mastectomy and radiation therapy, Ms. T. had uncomfortable thoughts about her body, especially when participating in social activities such as going to the beach. However, due to financial difficulties and concerns about her body's possible reaction to the reconstructive material, she had not yet thought about undergoing plastic surgery.
Nearly 60 breast cancer patients have participated in the screening program at the 108 Military Central Hospital. Doctors here are very careful in selecting patients who are eligible for surgery, because the screening process requires high expertise to ensure the safety of the patients.
Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Ngoc Lam, Deputy Director of the 108 Military Central Hospital, said that doctors will select about 30-50 patients for surgery this year. The surgeries can be simple, such as just placing breast implants, but there are also more complicated cases, requiring deeper intervention, such as taking skin or muscle flaps to reconstruct the chest.
"We hope that patients after surgery can regain confidence, not only physically but also mentally, improving their quality of life," Dr. Lam shared.
Immediately afterwards, doctors performed surgery on two patients. One simple case only required breast implants, and the other more complicated case required taking skin flaps from elsewhere to create breast shapes.
After cancer treatment, patients may experience severe structural damage to their bodies, making breast reconstruction surgery more complicated than regular breast augmentation. One of the concerns of many patients is the recurrence of cancer after plastic surgery.
Associate Professor Vu Ngoc Lam affirmed that the patients participating in this surgery have all been successfully treated for cancer and have had a long enough follow-up period to determine their stable condition. Doctors will use safe techniques and materials to ensure that diagnosis and post-operative treatment are not difficult.
Although current health insurance only covers breast cancer treatment, not plastic surgery, with the free surgery program of 108 Military Central Hospital, many women will have the opportunity to regain a balanced body shape and confidence to integrate into life.
According to Vu Ngoc Lam, the hospital will continue to maintain this free breast reconstruction surgery program annually, helping women after breast cancer regain their confidence and improve their quality of life.
Discover the causes of rare skin diseases and current solutions
Rare skin diseases are a group of diseases with a very low incidence, greatly affecting the patient's quality of life and can lead to serious complications.
However, diagnosing these diseases is difficult, because the causes are not always clear, and effective treatments have not yet been found.
According to Dr. Vu Thai Ha, Head of the Department of Research and Application of Stem Cell Technology at the Central Dermatology Hospital, rare skin diseases can originate from many different causes. These diseases are often not identified and diagnosed correctly from the beginning, making the treatment process difficult.
Patients often have to go through many medical facilities before reaching the tertiary specialized hospitals. The main causes of rare skin diseases can be divided into 4 main groups:
Genetic: This is the group of causes with the highest proportion (60-80% of all rare skin diseases). Diseases in this group often appear from a young age, with about 80% of cases detected in childhood. These diseases are genetic, often persistent and difficult to treat, and can easily lead to serious complications.
Infections: Rare skin conditions can also be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Some of these infections are easy to spot, but other rare bacteria or viruses can cause the condition, making diagnosis more complicated.
Neuropsychiatric disorders: This group of diseases is often overlooked. For accurate diagnosis, coordination between dermatologists and neurologists and psychiatrists is required. Early detection of this group of diseases is very important, because it can seriously affect the psychology and overall health of the patient.
Unknown cause: Some rare skin diseases have unknown causes, making diagnosis and treatment difficult. These diseases are complex and require further research to find the cause and effective treatment.
Rare skin diseases have a profound impact on the quality of life of sufferers, not only physically but also psychologically. However, to date, treatments for these diseases have mainly been symptomatic and there is no cure. Due to the complexity and lack of awareness of the disease, many patients suffer for long periods before receiving a correct diagnosis.
The Central Dermatology Hospital is currently managing 130 patients with rare skin diseases such as neurofibromatosis, ichthyosis, xeroderma pigmentosum, tuberous fibroma, keratosis... These diseases are in need of further attention and research from the medical community, to develop effective treatment methods and support more accurate diagnosis.
In that context, the book "Rare Skin Diseases" by Professor, Dr. Tran Hau Khang, which has just been released in English, will make an important contribution to the management and research of these diseases. The book is a valuable document in the field of dermatology, including nearly 50 rare skin diseases, providing theoretical knowledge, medical evidence and practical observations from rare cases in Vietnam and around the world.
The book is also the result of more than 40 years of professional experience of Professor Tran Hau Khang, who has held important positions in the field of dermatology, and has made great contributions to compiling diagnostic and treatment guidelines for skin diseases in the region.
Through these efforts, it is hoped to raise public and medical awareness of rare diseases, thereby promoting research, supporting diagnosis and treatment for patients.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/tin-moi-y-te-ngay-33-canh-giac-voi-benh-nam-phoi-do-nam-moc-d250456.html
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