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When the sinus cavities become inflamed due to inhaled fungi, fungal sinusitis occurs. Fungi are plant-like organisms that have no chlorophyll and as a result, they feed from dead organic matter. Just like bacteria, fungi can break down almost every type of complex organic substances. Sometimes fungus begins eating an organism that is still alive, especially when the body's immune system is suppressed and this results in inflammation of the sinus cavities. Fungi are comfortable in dark and moist environments like sinuses. They are neither animals nor plants and are classified in a category of their own. A warm humid climate may enhance fungal growth and amplify allergic reactions. Fungal sinusitis have the same signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis and both are unresponsive to antibiotic therapy. Types of Fungal Sinusitis There are 2 types of fungal sinusitis: Non-Invasive Types • Allergic fungal sinusitis • Fungal ball or mycetoma Invasive Types • Acute fulminant fungal sinusitis • Chronic invasive fungal sinusitis Allergic fungal sinusitis Allergic fungal sinusitis is an allergic reaction to inhaled environmental fungi floating in the air, which causes thick fungal debris to develop in the sinuses. The following types of fungi commonly cause this condition: Culvalaria Lanata, Arspergillus Fumigatus, Bipolaris and Drechslera. If you have allergic fungal sinusitis, you may experience nasal block and discharge and may develop nasal polyps, sometimes extensive. Fungal ball or mycetoma If fungal colonies grow in the cavities of the sinuses and sometimes occupy them completely, you may have fungal ball or mycetoma. They commonly grow in the maxillary or the sphenoid sinuses. You may experience nasal stuffiness and have other features of sinusitis like nasal blockage and discharge, usually one-sided. It may sometimes be an incidental finding in a CT scan. Acute fulminant sinusitis This is where fungi invade your body that has a deficient immune system. It can lead to the destruction of the sinuses as well as invade the bony cavities that protect the eyeball and brain. You may experience fever, severe headache, facial pain, nasal obstruction and nasal discharge, which may be blackish or blood stained. Endoscopy may show the nasal tissues turning black and necrotic. This condition can be rapidly fatal if not treated immediately. The infection may spread to the eye, causing blindness, and the brain, resulting in meningitis. Chronic invasive fungal sinusitis This is when fungi invade your body that does not have an immune deficiency. This chronic invasive fungal sinusitis can progress for months to years and leads to chronic headaches and facial swelling. Chronic invasive fungal sinusitis is similar to acute fulminant sinusitis but spreads more slowly, giving rise to all the features of long standing chronic sinusitis with no response to antibiotic treatment. This infection may also spread to the eye. The acute and toxic symptoms of the acute fulminant variety are absent. Treatment of fungal sinusitis For the noninvasive conditions, antifungal drugs play almost no role. The treatment consists of surgically removing the fungal ball, debris and polyps. Corticosteroid nasal sprays are effective in the treatment of allergic fungal sinusitis. The invasive varieties require surgical debridement of the necrotic tissue along with intravenous or oral antifungal drugs and treatment of the underlying immune deficiency. Long-term follow up may be necessary. For more information, visit http://www.sinusdynamics.com/
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