Allergic fungal sinusitis in the pediatric population

Stephen B. Kupferberg, John P. Bent

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To determine the optimal treatment in pediatric patients with allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS). Design: A retrospective review of 10 patients diagnosed as having AFS. Setting: Academic tertiary medical center. Patients: Pediatric patients who fulfilled 5 criteria necessary for diagnosis of AFS: (1) type 1 hypersensitivity; (2) nasal polyposis; (3) characteristic computed tomographic scan; (4) histological evidence of eosinophilic mucus without evidence of fungal invasion into sinus tissue; and (5) a positive fungal stain or culture of sinus contents. Treatment: All patients were treated with functional endoscopic sinus surgery with removal of fungal debris. Adjuvant therapy included nasal irrigations, postoperative endoscopic cleanings, and systemic corticosteroids in 9 of 10 patients. Mean Outcome Measure: Clinical disease monitored endoscopically by means of an objective staging system. Results: Five patients were without disease (stage 0), 1 had allergic mucin and mucosal edema (stage 1), 1 had allergic mucin and polypoid edema (stage II), and 3 had polyps and/or fungal debris (stage III). Conclusions: The treatment and prognosis of pediatric AFS are similar to those of adult AFS. However, systemic corticosteroids should be weaned aggressively in children to minimize complications, particularly long-term growth retardation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1381-1384
Number of pages4
JournalArchives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Volume122
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1996
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Otorhinolaryngology

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