posted September 21, 2008 06:23 AM         

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MORE ABOUT FUNGAL INFECTIONS
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"Mayo Clinic researchers say they have found the cause of most chronic
sinus infections -- an immune system response to fungus. They say this
discovery opens the door to the first effective treatment for this
problem, the most common chronic disease in the United States. An
estimated 37 million people in the U.S. suffer from chronic sinusitis,
an inflammation of the membranes of the nose and sinus cavity. Its
incidence has been increasing steadily over the last decade. Common
symptoms are runny nose, nasal congestion, loss of smell and
headaches. Frequently, the chronic inflammation leads to polyps, small
growths in the nasal passages that hinder breathing."

"Fungus allergy was thought to be involved in less than 10 percent of
cases. The new studies indicate that, in fact, fungus is likely the
cause of nearly all of these problems. And it is not an allergic
reaction, but an immune reaction. The disease process in sinus
patients, in sensitive individuals, the body's immune system sends
eosinophils to attack fungi and the eosinophils irritate the membranes
in the nose. As long as fungi remain, so will the irritation."

"Antibiotics and over-the-counter decongestants are widely used to
treat chronic sinusitis. In most cases, antibiotics are not effective
for chronic sinusitis because they target bacteria, not fungi. The
over-the-counter drugs may offer some relief of symptoms, but they
have no effect on the inflammation. Thousands of kinds of single-cell
fungi (molds and yeasts) are found everywhere in the world. Fungal
spores (the reproductive part of the organism) become airborne like
pollen. Some people develop allergies to fungi. The new evidence from
the Mayo study suggests that many people also develop a different kind
of immune system response."

From "Study Implicates Fungus As Cause Of Chronic Sinusitis." http://www.mercola.com/1999/archive/fungus_cause_of_sinusitis.htm

Read "Researchers show chronic sinusitis is immune disorder;
antifungal medicine effective treatment." http://www.scienceblog.com/community/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2513