Fungal background of asthmagenesis in Egyptian patients

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the role of fungi in the genesis of bronchial asthma in Egyptian patients, 44 asthmatics and 10 healthy normal control subjects were examined clinically and by laboratory means for routine urine, stool and blood count examination and skin prick test with extract of nine airborne fungi. Sputum culture for fungi as well as serologic examination were done consuming precipitin test with fungal extracts and immune complex detection. Skin tests for the nine fungi were also applied. These parameters indicated high degree of positivity among our asthmatic patients compared to controls, indicating considerable role of fungi in asthmagenesis, though, immune complexes were + ve in all cases indicating that type III allergic reaction has no outstanding role in asthma production. This study also showed that detection of fungus in the sputum, blood eosinophilia, positive skin reaction to fungus allergen and precipitin test, all are useful markers in diagnosis of fungal allergic bronchopulmonary disease