Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis Caused by Aspergillus flavus

Abstract

Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the sinonasal mucosa, with or without nasal polyps, which is frequently associated with microbial colonization including fungi. A case of fungal rhinosinusitis in Aseer area, Saudi Arabia, is described. The patient was admitted with common symptoms including nasal obstruction accompanied by itching, sneezing, rhinorrhea, epistaxis and recurrent headache. The patient was examined clinically and by CT scan. Nasal sinus swabs and a biopsy specimen were submitted for microbiological analysis. Polyps were surgically removed during functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Histopathology showed the presence of acute and chronic inflammatory cell infiltrates (rich in eosinophils) in the covering epithelium layers. Aspergillus flavus was isolated and identified from the lesions. The patient was discharged after showing good recovery, and home follow-up revealed no recurrences.