The Different Clinical Presentations of Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis

Abstract

The aim of this study is to describe different clinical presentations of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) managed in King Fahad Specialist hospital, a tertiary care hospital in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. A total number of 15 cases (8 males and 7 females) of AFRS were diagnosed and managed. The youngest age at presentation was 7 years and the eldest was 68 years. 7 of these cases were briefly presented in this article, each with a different clinical presentation and all diagnosed to have allergic fungal sinusitis based on Bent and Khun diagnostic criteria. Some of these cases even have been diagnosed with other types of fungal sinusitis that were occurring concurrently. To conclude, despite AFRS being categorized as a benign, non-invasive disease, its presentation can range from simple nasal obstruction to signs and symptoms of intraorbital and/or intracranial complications; with paediatric cases being more aggressive in nature than in adults. Other forms of fungal sinusitis may coexist with allergic fungal sinusitis as well. For that, each patient should undergo careful clinical evaluation, detailed histopathological examination to rule out mixed types and malignancies, and a lifelong follow up to manage the recurrence.