Sunday, March 28, 2021

FUNGAL SINUSITIS... HOW IT CAN TROUBLE YOU

Fungal infection of the nose and sinuses can be troublesome. They are classified  on the basis of invasion into surrounding tissues like blood vessels, and bones and noninvasion. Invasive type is life threatening if not treated promptly. 
WHAT ARE NONINVASIVE TYPES ? 
There are different types of noninvasive, one type is characterized by fungus growing over nasal crusts. The patient will complain of foul smelling odour coming from the nose, and are treated with removal of the crusts and cleaning the area to prevent formation of a fungal ball. FUNGAL BALL  is an accumulated fungal elements within the sinus to form a ball, usually seen in middle aged patients. Treatment is to remove the  fungal ball. 
ALLERGIC FUNGAL SINUSITIS is another type of noninvasive, which is due to an allergic reaction to the fungal elements in the sinuses. Patients are usually  young, with presence of nasal polyp, hypersensitivity reaction and often have  asthma history. There will be eosinophilia and usually it is one sided. They present with nasal block, nasal discharge which is thick sticky yellowish or greenish and  associated polyp . Allergic tests,  radiological investigation and fungal culture will aid in diagnosis. Treated with topical and systemic antifungals. 
WHAT ARE INVASIVE TYPES ? 
They are life threatening, seen in patients with low immunity like uncontrolled DIABETES, malignancy, those on immunosuppressive drugs and other immunodeficiency diseases. Fungal elements invade the soft tissue, blood vessels and  bones  causing destruction and bleeding. There will be cough,  headache, fever ,crusting of nasal mucosa, nasal bleeding with ulceration of nasal mucosa. Bone erosion can cause spread into the orbit  (eye) and brain. Treatment should be done immediately using antifungals. 
Other type is FUNGAL GRANULOMA  where granulomatous tissue  causes bulging of the eyeball nose and sinuses. Granuloma has to be removed and treated with antifungals. 
CHRONIC INVASIVE type are slowly destructive seen in Diabetes, those on immunosuppressive drugs. Fungal elements are seen in nose and sinuses and has to be removed and given antifungals. 
This  topic was  selected to create awareness about fungal infection. 

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