"I Went to the Dentist for Gum Pain, Only to Find My Skull Bone Was Melting": Why Antibiotics Failed

A patient in his 50s, identified by his surname Kim, visited a hospital due to gum pain.

[Interview] Kim / Patient with Fungal Sinusitis: "My gums were in such bad shape that I received gum treatment."

Although he was treated with antibiotics for over a month, his symptoms only worsened.

[Interview] Kim / Patient with Fungal Sinusitis: "I couldn't smell things well. And my head always felt a bit dizzy and heavy..."

After transferring to a specialized hospital, he was diagnosed not with gum disease, but with sinusitis. The problem was actually in his nose.

However, there was still something unusual. Sinusitis typically clears up with antibiotic treatment, but it had no effect on Kim.

This was because he was infected with a fungus, which does not respond to antibiotics, rather than common bacteria.

[Interview] Jang Gyu-seon / Otorhinolaryngologist: "White lesions can be seen. These are masses of fungi inside the sinus..."

According to a study by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialty hospital, the number of patients with fungal sinusitis, which used to be around 40 to 50 per year, surged to 122 last year.

Diseases caused by fungi are increasing significantly worldwide.

A research team at the University of Georgia in the United States recently identified climate change and an aging population as the causes.

This is because fungi easily thrive in people with weakened immune systems in hot and humid environments.

There are concerns that fungal sinusitis will increase even more rapidly in South Korea, which is experiencing rapid climate change and an ultra-fast aging population.

Fungal sinusitis is characterized by symptoms appearing in only one side of the nose, accompanied by pain and a foul odor.

Since antibiotics are completely ineffective, it is recommended to undergo quick examinations such as nasal endoscopy or CT scans and receive surgery as soon as possible.

[Interview] Lee Sang-duk / Otorhinolaryngologist: "After removing all the fungal masses, we wash out the fungal debris embedded in the mucous membrane with saline solution."

In some cases, the fungus has even dissolved skull and eye socket bones.

In patients with weakened immune systems, such as those with long-term diabetes, highly aggressive fungi can grow, and if not treated in time, the mortality rate can reach 49%.

For prevention, it is important to manage nasal hygiene, such as avoiding prolonged colds and rinsing the nose with saline solution.

"Only one side of my nose was blocked": Ignored symptoms led to melting skull bones (July 5, 2026, 8 O'Clock News)

Reported by Cho Dong-chan | Written by Bae Jun-hwi | Video by Kang Dong-chul | Video Editing by Park Na-young | Graphics by Seo Seung-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.