Fungal maxillary sinusitis: a prospective study in a tertiary care hospital of eastern Nepal

The incidence of mycotic infections and the diversity of pathogenic fungi have increased dramatically in recent years. Fungal sinusitis should be considered in all the patients with chronic maxillary sinusitis (CMS), especially in association with certain clinical features that serve as clue to the diagnosis. Aspergillus is the most common fungal pathogen in maxillary sinus.

A total of 100 patients those who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria (Lanza and Kennedy, 1992) for chronic rhinosinusitis were eligible for this open level and randomized prospective study. Only those above 14 years of age were included.

Fungal maxillary sinusitis was seen in 14% of all cases of chronic maxillary sinusitis in eastern part of Nepal. We identified Acremonium and Candida species as commonest fungi involved in fungal maxillary sinusitis (FMS). To the best of our knowledge this is the first such study conducted in eastern Nepal.