What is the importance of a fungus in sinusitis?
An article published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings in September, 1999 by Dr. Gene Kern’s group at the Mayo Clinic suggests that fungal sinusitis may be much more common than previously thought. Fungal growth was found in 96% of patients with chronic sinusitis. The difference between those with chronic sinusitis and the normal population was that their eosinophiles ( a type of white blood cell involved in allergic and other reactions) had become activated. The eosinophiles had released a product called Major Basic Protein which attacks the fungus but is very irritating to the lining of the sinuses. It is then speculated that this injury allows the bacteria to proliferate. The concern is whether our treatment of sinusitis should be directed at treatment of the fungus rather than the bacteria. This topic is extremely controversial, but most specialists in sinusitis now agree that it is an important factor in some patients with sinusitis. For more information please go to the separate pag
