Did you know fungal infections can affect uncommon areas (not just your feet)—such as your eyes, sinuses, brain, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs? While rare in the sinuses, athlete's foot (a fungal infection of the feet) can unusually develop in your nose.
This article explores the causes, symptoms, and comprehensive treatment options for athlete's foot in the nose, offering valuable insights for those affected and healthcare providers.
[signup]
What is Athlete’s Foot in the Nose?
Athlete's foot in the nose is a fungus that affects the inside of the nose vs. your feet. Also called fungal sinusitis, it's a sinus infection that can lead to serious medical problems if left untreated.
Athlete's foot often presents as peeling, scaling, burning, itchiness, inflammation, or cracked skin between your toes. It's common, affecting about 70% of the population during their lifetime.
Athlete's foot develops when dermatophyte fungi spread via contact with contaminated surfaces, such as locker room floors, community showers, pool decks, and shared shoes.
Fungal sinusitis, on the other hand, often causes symptoms similar to a sinus infection— think nasal congestion, a decreased sense of smell, and sinus pressure or headaches.
Several types of fungi can manifest their way into the nasal cavity by breathing in mold or yeast in the air. While healthy people usually don't react negatively to inhaled fungus, immunocompromised individuals might.
In fact, fungal sinusitis can become dangerous or life-threatening in people with weakened immune systems.
Fungal infections in the nose are more rare than those on the feet. While 12% of the population experiences sinusitis (sinus infections), acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) is rare and sometimes fatal, affecting just 300-400 people in the United States annually.
Noninvasive fungal infections are more common than this, but they aren't deadly because they are contained within the nose and nasal passages.
Causes of Athlete’s Foot in the Nose
Examples of fungi that can cause athletes' feet in the nose (fungal sinusitis) include:
- Trichoderma longibrachiatum
- Aspergillus fumigatus
- Mucormycetes
- Others (Rhizopus, Candida Mucor, Cladosporium, Trichophyton, etc.).
Fungus is present in our environment, including the air we breathe. It's often most prevalent in humid and moist environments.
Most fungal sinus infections stem from inhaling yeasts or molds. Many types of fungi already live in or on our bodies. Fungal sinus infections in the nose, however, are spread from fungus in the environment, not other people.
Natural disasters like severe tornadoes have caused certain fungi to become airborne.
Because of their strong immune systems, many healthy people don't react to inhaled fungus through the nose. But in rare instances, fungus can lead to chronic or acute inflammation in the sinuses and nose.
What Are The Different Types of Fungal Sinusitis?
The types of fungal sinusitis include:
- Noninvasive (most common): Non-life-threatening and typically linked to environmental allergies and chronic sinusitis. It affects the nose and sinuses and is more common among people with seasonal allergies or asthma.
- Invasive (less common): This may be life-threatening and can progress rapidly, requiring hospital admission and treatment. It can spread to your eyes, brain, and other areas.
The invasive form of fungal sinusitis is most prevalent in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cancer, or uncontrolled diabetes—and individuals taking immunosuppressant medicines or undergoing chemotherapy.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Recognizing the symptoms of athlete's foot in the nose is critical to ensure prompt treatment when necessary.
Recognizing Symptoms
Common symptoms of noninvasive fungal sinusitis include:
- Nasal discomfort and irritation
- Swelling in the nose and sinuses
- Decreased sense of smell
- Visible signs of fungus in the nose
- Fever
- Golden-yellow mucus (similar to rubber cement)
- Nasal congestion
- Sinus pressure
- Sinus headaches
- Runny nose
- Smelling foul odors
- Nasal polyps
- Blocked sinuses
- Fungal clump or ball in the sinuses
These symptoms may imitate those of other sinus infections.
The invasive form of fungal sinusitis could cause the following more severe symptoms when not treated:
- Behavioral and cognitive changes (difficulty reasoning, confusion, etc.)
- Neurological concerns
- Vision changes, including vision loss or double vision
- Bulging eyes
- Facial numbness
- Blackened or very pale skin
- Headaches
- Fever
- Sinus pain
- Nasal congestion
- Crusts of mucus inside the nose
- Pus draining from the eyes
- Black tears
- Sores on the roof of the mouth
- Severe swelling around the eyes or cheeks
- Cranial nerve palsy (problems controlling eye movements or smiling)
When left untreated, invasive fungal sinusitis can cause blood clots in the sinuses, destroy the lining of the nose and other nasal tissues, spread to your eyes and brain, cause blindness, or lead to death. Acute invasive fungal sinusitis is deadly about 50% of the time.
Diagnostic Procedures
Diagnosing athlete's foot in the nose involves a medical examination, discussion of symptoms, medications, and medical history, and diagnostic testing.
Such tests may include an endoscopy, biopsy, cultures, allergy testing, a CT scan, an MRI, or other imaging procedures.
Biopsies and cultures help determine which pathogen is responsible for unpleasant symptoms, and imaging procedures can locate infections and check for fungal balls.
A differential diagnosis includes viral, bacterial, allergic, and other forms of sinusitis. Determining the type of fungal infection present helps guide treatment decisions.
Treatment Options
Treating fungal sinusitis may consist of the following solutions.
Conventional Medical Treatments
Conventional treatments for athlete's foot in the nose might include:
- Antifungal medications
- Saline nasal wash to remove mucus crusts and rinse out the sinuses
- Nasal decongestant sprays
- Corticosteroids
- Fungal immunotherapy
- Allergy shots
- Sinus surgery to remove infected tissues or debris
Combining topical with systemic medications may be beneficial.
Depending on the type and severity of their infection and symptoms, individuals with healthy immune systems might not need treatment. However, invasive fungal sinus infections in people with weakened immune systems require prompt treatment and are medical emergencies.
Integrative and Functional Approaches
Treating and preventing nasal fungal infections holistically may entail natural remedies, dietary supplements, hydration, and lifestyle and hygiene adjustments.
Some individuals explore dietary supplements under the guidance of a healthcare provider, including vitamin C and other antioxidants, in conjunction with standard medical care.
Nasal saline rinses, saline sprays, humidifiers, most washcloths, or inhaling steam 2-4 times daily may help ease congestion.
Studies show that coconut oil instilled into the nose offers temporary symptom relief from congestion, drainage, and other sinusitis symptoms.
The researchers also found that humming releases nitric oxide gasses into sinus tissues by 15-20 fold, and nitric oxide is a natural antifungal.
They report that humming strongly at a low pitch for one hour (18 hums per minute) the first night, followed by humming 60-120 times four times daily for four days, reduced symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis caused by fungi.
While preliminary research is promising, more studies are needed. Always consult a medical professional for treatment advice.
Prevention Strategies
While preventing fungal infections in the nose can be difficult, a few simple measures may help.
Maintaining Nasal Hygiene
Maintain good nasal hygiene with cleansing routines. Blow your nose to remove debris and treat seasonal allergies to avoid nasal congestion. Use saline nasal rinses or seasonal allergy treatments as a healthcare professional recommends.
General Tips to Prevent Fungal Infections
If you're at risk of invasive fungal sinusitis, ask your medical provider about taking antifungals as a prevention measure.
Avoid areas containing large amounts of dust or dirt—or wear an N95 respirator mask to filter out fungal spores. Seek medical care at the first sign of an invasive fungal infection in the nose.
Lastly, control blood sugar if you have diabetes, eat nutrient-dense foods, and take a multivitamin supplement as directed by a medical professional to optimize immune function.
Case Studies and Personal Experiences
While rare, athlete's foot in the nose (fungal sinusitis) has occurred in numerous instances.
Real-Life Examples
One case study involved a 71-year-old man with type 2 diabetes and dermatomyositis who experienced vision loss, headaches, and altered consciousness caused by acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) from Aspergillus fumigatus.
His symptoms improved after intravenous antifungal therapy, amphotericin B 350 antibiotic, and immediate drainage of the sinuses.
In another case, a 52-year-old woman diagnosed with chronic sinusitis experienced sinus pressure, headaches, nasal congestion, and asthma.
After undergoing numerous treatment attempts, she found relief from allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) after undergoing nasal lavage, allergy immunotherapy, and oral itraconazole. Her symptoms remained controlled with intranasal itraconazole and low-dose corticosteroids.
A third case describes a 64-year-old man with severe rhinosinusitis, post-nasal pressure and drainage, headaches, and a cough. He found temporary relief by instilling coconut oil into his nose to reduce mucus production and drainage.
Humming, a natural way to increase nasal nitrous oxide production in the nasal tissues to kill fungi, gave him longer-lasting relief.
Expert Insights
About 1 in 7 adults in the United States have some form of sinusitis.
Washington University rhinologist Lauren Roland, MD, MSCI, recognizes that while current treatments for fungal sinus infections may be effective, there is room for ongoing research and improvements in managing the condition—particularly in the immunocompromised population.
[signup]
Key Takeaways
- Athlete’s foot in the nose, also called fungal sinusitis, isn't caused by athlete's foot. Instead, it's typically contracted by breathing in mold spores from air in the environment.
- The symptoms of fungal sinusitis often resemble other sinus infections, including nasal congestion, sinus pressure, headaches, and visible signs of nasal crusting or mucus.
- Risk factors include breathing in fungal spores and having a weakened immune system. Treatments may combine medications with saline rinses or other natural approaches.
- Awareness and effective therapies are vital to manage or prevent this unusual fungal infection—especially in people with weakened immune systems.
- Want to learn more? Read our related articles, subscribe to our newsletter, and leave a comment sharing your experiences or questions below!
%201.svg){kind=logo}
