How to Control Fungal Sinusitis

Fungi (mold) are plant-like organisms that can thrive in the sinus cavities. Fungi exist in everyone's sinuses, but some people have an overactive response to the fungi and develop chronic sinusitis. Patients with fungal sinusitis require long-term treatment with years of follow up. Five percent to 10 percent of all people who require sinus surgery suffer from fungal sinusitis. There are a number of different types of fungal sinusitis, but in most cases the only proven treatment to remove fungus from the sinuses is surgery.

Things You'll Need

• Saline solution
• Neti pot, squirt bottle

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Instructions

• 1

  Visit a doctor qualified in sinus surgery; you may need surgery to remove the fungus from your sinuses. Ask your doctor to consult a microbiologist to identify the type of fungus in your sinuses; identifying the type of fungus will help your doctor determine the best approach for treatment.

• 2

  Have surgery to completely remove all of the fungus and any polyps from your sinuses.This may be done through your nostrils in most cases. The surgery should open your sinus passages adequately and remove all apparent fungus so that it does not grow back

• 3

  Use oral steroids after the surgery (such as prednisone) over a period of about three months to keep your nasal passages open and draining properly. You should not need to use any anti-fungal treatments. Visit your surgeon for long-term follow-up care and endoscopic examination of your sinuses to ensure the fungus has been completely removed and is not growing back.

• 4

  After the surgery, do nasal washes on a daily basis. Make a solution by mixing 2 to 3 tsp. of kosher salt with 1 tsp. of baking soda in 1 pint of filtered or distilled water. Pour 1/2 cup of the solution into a bulb syringe, a plastic spray bottle or a Neti pot. Lean over a sink with your head forward and tilted to the side, and pour the solution into one nostril so it drains into your sinuses. Do the same in your other nostril. This should help to wash some of the fungus from your sinuses

• 5

  Continue to visit your doctor and have your sinuses examined as your doctor recommends. The recurrence of fungal sinusitis is common; 55 percent to 80 percent of patients have a recurrence of fungi in their sinuses. You may need to have additional surgeries if the fungi grow back.