Fungal disease of the nose and paranasal sinuses

George R Thompson1, Thomas F Patterson

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Coccidioidomycosis Serology Laboratory, University of California-Davis, Davis, Calif 95616, USA. grthompson@ucdavis.edu.

Insights

This review details fungal infections of the nose and sinuses, differentiating noninvasive and invasive types. Understanding host immunity is key to managing these common fungal diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Fungal infections of the nose and paranasal sinuses present a wide range of conditions.
  • Host immune status significantly influences clinical presentation.
  • Ubiquitous fungal exposure makes these infections common.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the spectrum of fungal rhinosinusitis.
  • To differentiate between noninvasive and invasive fungal sinusitis.
  • To highlight varying treatment strategies for effective management.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of fungal rhinosinusitis.
  • Classification of fungal sinusitis based on invasiveness.
  • Analysis of clinical manifestations and host factors.

Main Results:

  • Noninvasive forms include asymptomatic colonization, fungus balls, and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis.
  • Invasive forms encompass indolent chronic, granulomatous, and acute fulminant fungal sinusitis.
  • Overlapping syndromes necessitate careful differentiation.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate treatment of fungal sinusitis.
  • Management strategies vary significantly based on disease type and host immunity.
  • Further research into specific treatment regimens is warranted.

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