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Article: Chronic sinus infection & fungi.(Shorts)
- Article from:
- Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
- Article date:
- November 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 The Townsend Letter Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Mayo Clinic scientists have found a connection between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and a person's response to common airborne fungal spores. Their research is shifting attention away from the bacterial infections that characterize CRS and towards underlying inflammation. The scientists found spores from Alternaria, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium in the upper airway secretions belonging to healthy people as well as those with chronic sinusitis. People with CRS, however, "show exaggerated humoral and cellular responses ... to common airborne fungi, particularly Alternaria." Alternaria, whose spore is larger than the other fungi, has been associated with asthma ...