Sinus problems can generally be separated into three root causes: viral, bacterial, and fungal. It is very difficult to distinguish which type you may have just from the symptoms, so antibiotics are usually prescribed in all cases. Unfortunately, antibiotics only fight bacterial infections, and fungal infections are far more prevalent than people realize, especially for people who are suffering from another illness.

In fact, the Mayo Clinic explains that you are actually at a greater risk of developing a fungal infection if you already have some sinus abnormality or a weakened immune system.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have been researching the link between fungal infections and chronic sinusitis for several years. They’ve discovered that the most common cause of chronic sinus infections is the response of your body’s immune system to fungus.

Until recently, “fungus allergy was thought be involved in less than ten percent of cases [involving sinus infections],” reported Dr. David Sherris, one of the researchers who made this discovery. He is an ear, nose and throat specialist with the clinic.

“Our studies indicate that, in fact, fungus is likely the cause of nearly all of these problems. And it is not an allergic reaction, but an immune reaction,” he said.

Fungi — molds and yeasts — come in literally thousands of varieties. They’re also found in every part of the world. Fungal spores, the reproductive part of the organism, are carried through the air, much like pollen. Some individuals eventually develop an allergy to these spores. Others, however, have an immune reaction to these that differs from normal.

But It Really Is Good News

This is more than just a revelation. This is, in reality, good news for those who suffer from chronic sinusitis. Now that a cause has been established, the doctor continued, the medical community is in a much better position to treat not merely the symptoms. Now, doctors can treat the cause of the problem as well.

But these aren’t the only causes of sinus problems. Some experience sinus congestion along with their allergies. This is especially true with those who are plagued with hay fever. The inflammation, which is a natural part of many allergic reactions, many times results in blocked nasal passages or sinus passages.