David Sherris, Eugene Kern and Jens Ponikau. The research shows that an immune system response, not an allergy to fungi was the cause of the chronic sinusitis. Many types of fungi were identified in the patients' mucous. Frequently the chronic inflammation leads to polyps, small growths in the nasal passages which obstruct breathing, sinus drainage, and block passage to the smell organ.
Doctors are aware of sinusitis of fungal origin.
The most important application of the study is in the treatment of this disease. Antibiotics are effective only against bacteriological infections, and therefore do nothing for this chronic condition, and contribute to producing antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria . The patient is in fact set up for trouble treating unrelated infections in later life, and adds to the overall problem our society is just now beginning to face. The new research holds hope for improved treatment with drugs targeted directly at the fungi. The discovery was originally reported in the September 1999 issue of the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings .