December 21, 2024

Stuffy Nose From Allergies May Stem From Fungi

There's fungus among us, and it might be a key contributor to worsening allergies and asthma symptoms.

According to new research published Monday in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, individuals with respiratory allergies and asthma have distinct fungal colonies in their noses compared to people without such conditions.

"We showed that allergic rhinitis samples displayed a significantly higher fungal diversity and a different fungal community structure compared to those of healthy controls," said Dr. Luís Delgado, a researcher at the University of Porto in Portugal.

The Study

Researchers conducted nasal swabs on 214 children and young adults receiving treatment at an immunology and asthma clinic in Porto. These swabs were then analyzed and compared to samples from 125 healthy individuals.

By sequencing the fungal DNA, scientists found common fungi known to contribute to allergies and diseases in humans.

"This suggests that the nasal cavity is a major reservoir for fungi that could be involved in allergic rhinitis and asthma," Delgado explained in a journal news release.

Key Findings

The study revealed that patients with respiratory allergies, particularly those with both allergies and asthma, harbored richer and more diverse fungal colonies in their noses than healthy individuals.

This abundance and variety of fungi might influence the immune environment in the nasal cavity, potentially exacerbating allergic reactions and asthma symptoms.

Study Limitations and Future Directions

While the findings are significant, Delgado cautioned about certain limitations in the research:

"However, we could not control all patient-specific variables, such as disease severity and related treatment levels, and patients were sampled at a single time," Delgado noted.

Future research will aim to address these variables and explore whether reducing nasal fungal levels could improve allergy or asthma symptoms.

This study sheds light on the complex interplay between fungi and respiratory health, paving the way for new treatments that target fungal communities in the nose.