Background: A non-invasive sinusitis that often affects young persons is allergic fungal sinusitis.
Objective: This study aimed to explain the potential risk factors that may affect patients suffering from nasal polyps with allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS)local anatomical variants or general illnesses.
Patients and methods:This case-controlstudy was carried outon 160 patients (80 patients with allergic nasal polyposis with fungal sinusitis and 80 cases with nasal polyp without superimposed fungal infection). The study was performed at the ENT Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, from 21st May 2018 to 21st May 2022.
Results: The mean vitamin D level was considerably lower in the case group (27.86 ±5.92 ng/mL)than in the control group (38.98 ±5.92 ng/mL). The cases had significantly higher anatomical abnormalities (deviated nasal septum and inferior turbinate hypertrophy) than the control group (P value <0.001).MW-I was lower significantly in the case group than in the control group while ML-I was significantly longer in the case group than in the control group (P value <0.001). Deviated nasal septum, vitamin D, MW-I, and ML-I were significant independent predictors for fungal sinusitis (P value< 0.001)
Conclusions: Features of anatomical abnormalities, such as a notably deviated septum, MW-I, and ML-I may increase the incidence of fungal sinusitis more than general illness as bronchial asthma and DM. Vitamin D deficiency may have a role in developing superimposed fungal sinusitis.