Ignoring a Stuffy Nose? It Could Be a Fungal Infection Eroding Bone

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

[Interview: Kim / Patient with fungal sinusitis] "I had severe gum problems, so I received treatment for my gums."

Despite receiving antibiotic treatment 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 dizzy and heavy..."

After transferring to a specialized hospital, he was diagnosed not with gum disease, but with sinusitis, or inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.

The issue was in his nose.

However, there was an unusual aspect to his case.

Sinusitis usually 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 fungus inside the paranasal sinuses..."

A survey by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialty hospital showed that 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 infect people with weakened immune systems in hot and humid environments.

In South Korea, which is experiencing rapid climate change and an ultra-fast aging population, there is concern that fungal sinusitis will increase even more quickly.

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 prompt 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 severe cases, the fungus can erode the bones of the skull and eye sockets.

For 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 avoid prolonged colds and maintain good nasal hygiene, such as by rinsing with physiological saline.

Reported by Kang Dong-chul | Video edited 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.