Vietnam Ranks Fifth Globally in Chronic Fungal Disease Burden
Vietnam has grappled with the fifth global burden of chronic fungal diseases, including 15,000 cases of invasive lung fungal infections and 55,000 cases of chronic lung fungal infections caused by Aspergillus annually, officials said.
Health officials announced this information at a scientific seminar on the challenges in diagnosing and treating lung fungal infections organized by the National Lung Hospital on February 1, 2024, aimed at updating knowledge on the diagnosis and treatment of lung fungi for the medical professionals working in healthcare facilities nationwide.
Approximately 50% of individuals previously diagnosed with tuberculosis and seeking specialized respiratory care facilities are found to have lung fungal infections caused by Aspergillus, experts added, noting that 90% of those infected with lung fungi remain undetected within the community. Without timely screening and early detection for prompt treatment, the risk of severe illness and mortality is significantly high.
Dr. Dinh Van Luong, director of the National Lung Hospital, said that fungal lung infections are challenging to detect, even for healthcare professionals. Globally, deaths related to fungal diseases reach around 3.8 million people annually, surpassing tuberculosis-related deaths (1.3 million cases) and being five times higher than malaria-related deaths. In Vietnam, invasive Aspergillus infections account for 23,470 cases, while chronic Aspergillus infections reach 115,000 cases.