How can you tell if you have a funal sinus infection?

Question

My ENT will not take a culture to test for funal sinus infections even though I have chronic infections. Is there anybody who has funal sinus infections and if so what are your symtoms?

Answer 1

My wife had a fungal infection in her sinuses, and the ENT didn't catch it until she lost her sight in one eye. My wife's ENT said her problem was all due to an infected tooth, nothing wrong with her sinuses. She lost half of her face because the only treatment is surgery. If your ENT won't listen, go to someone else.

Answer 2

Usually fungal sinus infections are characterised by a thick mucous that is of yellow or clear color. If it was a bacterial infection than you would likely have a green thick mucous as opposed to yellow or clear. Also anti-biotics will not clear up a fungal sinus infection, often they are caused by overuse of anti-biotics

Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) is commonly caused by Aspergillus, as well as Fusarium, Curvularia, and others. Patients often have associated asthma. The criteria include CT or MRI confirmation, a dark green or black material the consistency of peanut butter called "allergic mucin" which typically contain a few hyphae, no invasion, and no predisposing systemic disease. Charcot-Leyden crystals, which are breakdown products of eosinophiles are often found. Usually patients are found to be allergic to the fungus, although this is controversial. This disease is analogous to Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis. This problem is most similar to the type described at the Mayo clinic, but these patients have a much different character to their mucus.

Fungus balls often involve the maxillary sinus and may present similarly to other causes of sinusitis including a foul smelling breath. In addition to radiological abnormalities, thick pus or a clay-like substance is found in the sinuses. There is no allergic mucin, but dense hyphae are found. There is no invasion. There is an inflammatory response in the mucosa. Upon looking into the sinus, the fungus ball can vary in size from 1 mm or smaller to a size which completely occupies the sinus. It may have a greenish-black appearance. Removal of the fungus ball is the typical treatment.

Invasive sinusitis can progress rapidly, and typically necessitates surgery, often on a emergent basis and often requiring Amphotericin B intravenously as well. There have been some forms of invasive sinusitis which can cause proptosis. There is a form of chronic invasive fungal sinusitis which is associated with visual abnormalities due to bony erosion from the ethmoids.

Fungal sinusitis should obviously be treated by someone with extensive experience in treatment of that disease.

Better yet get a new ENT, fungal sinusitis is nothing to play around with.