Fungal sinus infections are usually a a chronic type of infection that are present for a long time, ranging from months to years. These infections will cause sinus and facial pressure and drainage that is discolored most of the time.
The symptoms of a fungal sinus infection are similar to that of a bacterial sinus infection: thick discolored mucous, fatigue, head pressure, coughing, frequent clearing of the throat, nasal congestion, bad breath, sore throat, chronic ear infections, and if you have asthma it will make your asthma more difficult to control.
Diagnosing Fungal Sinus Infections
The only way to make a diagnosis of a fungal infection is by doing a C-T scan of the sinuses or doing a direct culture, performed by an Ear Nose and Throat doctor (ENT). A fungal infection is difficult to treat and may take a long time to resolve. Unfortunately the diagnosis of a fungal sinus infection is made too often, and the infection is actually a bacterial sinus infection.
If you suffer with frequent sinus infections please visit our practice to help determine if there is a sinus infection and if there is an underlying cause for these infections. Many times a poor immune system is involved.
Treatment
Nasal irrigations with anti-fungal medicine are generally the way to treat these types of infections. Sometimes oral steroids are needed and possible sinus surgery. Nasal rinses with antifungal medicine like Amphotericin® and Sporanox® are most often used. These rinses require a prescription and are used once or twice a day for an extended length of time. The rinses may be needed from one to three months. At times, a patient may use the rinses off and on. Oral antifungal medicines do not have a significant affect on fungal sinus infections. Some patients will require sinus surgery to clear the sinuses of the fungal infection.
If you suffer from sinus infections you should seek help from an allergist immunologist trained in treating frequent infections. We frequently treat individuals with recurrent sinus infections that have not been able to get a cure. We are experts in the difficult to treat sinus infections.
More About Sinusitis:
