ABPA and AFRS: addressing prevalence, early diagnosis, allergens, and occupational concerns

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the prevalence of ABPA and AFRS, scrutinize existing diagnostic criteria and immunoassays, pinpoint their limitations, highlight ABPA as an occupational health implication, and identify suggestive measures to improve ABPA diagnosis in the context of Occupational Health Nursing and primary healthcare.

Data sources

The data sources such as PubMed, Health and Safety Science Abstracts, OSH Update, Medline, and Google Scholar were searched.

Study selections

All published studies in the English language from 1990 till Oct, 2023 using Mesh terms keywords “Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis,” “Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis,” “Signs and Symptoms,” “Rapid Diagnostic Tests,” “Diagnosis,” “Occupational Health,” “Occupational Health Nursing,” “Prevalence,” “Allergens” following “Boolean operators” search strategy were selected.

Results

This review succinctly covered signs, symptoms, and prevalence data concerning ABPA and AFRS. It briefly discussed existing diagnostic criteria and immunoassays, highlighted factors influencing the assay’s variability, and underscored the role and scope of specific allergens toward improved, simple, and early ABPA diagnosis. ABPA as a neglected occupational health concern was emphasized, and the importance of RDTs in the context of healthcare professionals and OHNs was stated. Finally, this study suggested analyzing the impact of compromised post-pandemic immune status and the use of immunosuppressive drugs on ABPA prevalence among vulnerable communities and occupations.

Conclusion

To conclude, global and Indian ABPA and AFRS prevalence data, factors influencing existing assay variability, and the scope of improvement in RDTs for ABPA diagnosis in the background of primary healthcare professionals and OHNs were addressed.

Keywords:

• Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
• allergic fungal rhinosinusitis
• signs and symptoms
• rapid diagnostic tests
• occupational health
• allergens

Authors’ contributions

APM: Idea conceptualization, original writing, initial draft preparation, critically revision and editing. SD: Supervision, critical review and final approvals of the version to be submitted.

Disclosure statement

No financial or non-financial interests that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication. There are no conflicts of interest.