Fungal sinusitis is a broad term used to describe various situations when fungus might be involved in the cause or symptoms of nasal and sinus inflammation.
Fungus is an entirely separate “kingdom” from plants and animals; they are plant-like but cannot create their own food like plants do. Because they do not contain some of the proteins that plants use to harness the energy of the sun, fungi (plural) must absorb their nutrients from other organisms. Usually, fungi get their nutrients from dead or dying organisms, but can infect human beings as well (like infections of the skin or toenails).
The number of fungal infections has increased over the past few decades. Part of this may only be related to an increased awareness of fungal involvement in our environment, but may also be due to other things. While the body is usually able to fight off fungal infections easily, other conditions that compromise the immune system can encourage fungi to thrive. This includes conditions such as diabetes, leukemia or lymphoma, congenital immunodeficiencies (when the immune system does not work because of genetic problems), overuse of antibiotics, receiving medications to prevent organ transplant rejection, and other situations.
What Are the Symptoms of Fungal Sinusitis?
Symptoms of fungal sinusitis are similar to other forms of sinusitis, including:
- Nasal congestion
- Facial pain/pressure
- Loss of smell or foul odor in the nose
- Nasal drainage
Fungal sinusitis can be quite severe in anyone with a compromised immune system, and can cause:
- Changes of the skin (pale or black)
- Numbness of the face
- Facial swelling of cheeks or eyelids
What Causes Fungal Sinusitis?
What Are the Treatment Options?
Typical treatment options are noted in the individual causes of fungal sinusitis described above. Frequently, some sort of surgery or procedure is required to physically remove the fungus, the mucus that contains it, and sometimes the tissue that has been affected.
Antifungal medications can be used as well, but usually not without a surgery. There have been some studies that indicate that antifungal medications called “azoles,” such as itraconazole, can be useful in treating allergic fungal sinusitis. With invasive fungal sinusitis, use of antifungal medications is required.
Copyright 2022. American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.