title: The spectrum of allergic fungal diseases of the upper and lower airways.
abstract: Fungi cause a wide spectrum of fungal diseases of the upper and lower airways. There are three main phyla involved in allergic fungal disease: (1) Ascomycota (2) Basidiomycota (3) Zygomycota. Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) causes chronic rhinosinusitis symptoms and is caused predominantly by Aspergillus fumigatus in India and Bipolaris in the United States. The recommended treatment approach for AFRS is surgical intervention and systemic steroids. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (APBA) is most commonly diagnosed in patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis. Long term systemic steroids are the mainstay treatment option for ABPA with the addition of an antifungal medication. Fungal sensitization or exposure increases a patient's risk of developing severe asthma and has been termed severe asthma associated with fungal sensitivity (SAFS). Investigating for triggers and causes of a patient's asthma should be sought to decrease worsening progression of the disease.
authors.affiliation: a Allergy & Immunology , Saint Louis University , St. Louis , MO , USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: a Allergy & Immunology , Saint Louis University , St. Louis , MO , USA.
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caruthers
authors.affiliation: a Allergy & Immunology , Saint Louis University , St. Louis , MO , USA.
authors.forename: Roua
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Azmeh
authors.affiliation: a Allergy & Immunology , Saint Louis University , St. Louis , MO , USA.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dykewicz
authors.affiliation: a Allergy & Immunology , Saint Louis University , St. Louis , MO , USA.
authors.forename: Raymond G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Slavin
authors.affiliation: a Allergy & Immunology , Saint Louis University , St. Louis , MO , USA.
authors.forename: Alan P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Knutsen
mesh_terms: D001229:Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D005658:Fungi / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids
keywords: ABPA; ABPM; AFRS; AFS; Fungal allergy; allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; allergic bronchopulmonary mycoses; allergic fungal sinusitis; allergy; fungal rhinosinusitis; fungal sinusitis; severe asthma associated with fungal sensitivity