Abstract

Rhinosinusitis (RS) is one of the most common health care problems emerging across the globe approximately 20% of people experience this disease in their life. The most common form of RS is chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Although several factors are implicated in the incidence of CRS, the aetiopathogenesis of this disease has not been established completely and still has lacunae in our understanding. Recent studies have shown the role of airborne fungi in the pathogenesis of CRS. Many fungi have been associated with fungal sinusitis, most commonly the Aspergillus species, followed by Rhizopus, Mucor, Cladosporium, Candida, Cryptococcus species, etc. The non-invasive ones are generally dematiaceous moulds like Curvularia, Bipolaris, Alternaria, Fusarium species, etc. but they are known to cause intra-cranial complications in around 20% of patients. The spectrum of fungal sinusitis ranges from acute or chronic duration with allergic, invasive or non-invasive in nature. Chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis has a chronic course, often associated with immunocompromised patients, such as those with diabetes mellitus, corticosteroid treatment, receiving chemotherapy, chronic kidney failure patients requiring dialysis. With covid 19 pandemic, it was seen that the disease per se or its treatment, patient had a tendency of developing a temporary immune-compromised status.