Nasal Infections Beyond Bacteria

Although this article was written in 1999, many doctors still don’t look at chronic nasal problems that the culprit could be mold [emphasis were done by Dr. Schaller].

DD

http://www.usmoldphysician.com/articles/nasalinfections.html

Chronic Nasal "Infections"
Beyond Bacteria to New Medicine

In 1999, Dr. Ponikau, Dr. Sherris and Dr. Kern made a major contribution to the understanding of chronic nasal inflammation and infections. Molds were the common cause of most of these problems. At the time, that was like saying cars float on air. Mold had been placed at a low place as a cause of this group of nasal and sinus troubles bothering tens of millions in the USA.

We know that molds can have toxins both on the outside and inside of their spores. Molds can inflame tissue severely.

I am involved at looking at both designing mold killers and mold toxin removal for troubled patients. While it is very important to remove body mold toxins and kill the mold, you simply cannot be breathing mold spores or mold toxins all day long and expect to feel well.

We currently have nasal antibiotics and antifungal mold killers custom compounded to be used only in the nose, when the treatment medication does not need to get into the deep sinus cavities. (Some nasal treatments probably cannot get into infected or inflamed sinus cavities. So other more aggressive treatments will be needed).

Below are short quotes from two useful articles related to sinus or nasal problems.

Mayo Clin Proc. 1999 Sep;74(9):877-84.

The diagnosis and incidence of allergic fungal sinusitis.

Ponikau JU, Sherris DA, Kern EB, Homburger HA, Frigas E, Gaffey TA, Roberts GD.

This group looked at the criteria for diagnosing allergic fungal sinusitis and to determine its incidence. They collected and cultured fungi from nasal mucus. These cultures came back with a stunning finding.

Fungal cultures of nasal secretions were positive in 96% of the patients. IgE levels expected from common and basic fungal allergens were normal. So this was not simple "allergies."

Increased numbers of special white blood cells, eosinophils, are proposed to be reacting to mold, and causing chronic nasal illness.

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2002 Nov;127(5):377-83.

Detection of fungal organisms in eosinophilic mucin using a fluorescein-labeled chitin-specific binding protein.

Taylor MJ, Ponikau JU, Sherris DA, Kern EB, Gaffey TA, Kephart G, Kita H.

Amazingly, all 54 patients with chronic nasal & sinus inflammation had a lab visualize mold branches in their mucus samples. Eosinophil cells were again found to be prominent.

My Best To You,

Dr. J

Dr. James Schaller