Mold-Help.org - The world's largest TOXIC MOLD website
  • Mold Basics
    • Mold Overview
    • Mold Symptoms
    • Mold Types & Images
    • Fungal Infections
  • Resources and Tools
    • Home Care
    • Health & Diet
    • Tips for Parents
    • Coping with Loss
    • Private Research
    • Legal Suggestions
    • Mold in the Bible
  • Mold News
    • Current Headlines
    • “Sick Buildings”
    • The Environment
    • Construction Industry
    • Govt. & Politics
    • The Workplace
    • Landlords & Tenants
    • Insurance Companies
    • Schools & Institutions
    • Strange Fungal Tales
    • Personal Mold Stories
    • Additional Articles
  • Agencies & Experts
  • About Mold-Help
    • Mold-Help News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Key Milestone in Antifungal Treatment for Severe Asthma

in Private Research /by Carolyn Willbanks

London, UK – University of Manchester researchers announced today that they have reached a key milestone in their study of the antifungal treatment of asthma.

It is hoped that the study, by clinical researchers based at Manchester’s Wythenshawe Hospital, will reduce steroid use and serious attacks requiring hospital intervention for asthma sufferers. It could also help those with cystic fibrosis and chronic sinusitis. Severe asthma in adults affects 10 – 20% of the UK’s 5m asthmatics, and skin tests indicate that up to 70% of these sufferers are allergic to one or more common fungi in the air.

Previous studies have shown the benefits of one antifungal drug [Itraconazole or Sporonox] for the asthma subgroup known as “allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis or ABPA”. The University of Manchester researchers are studying the more common association between fungal allergy and those with severe asthma who do not have ABPA. Volunteers are screened and, if testing shows allergy to one or more fungi, allocated Itraconazole capsules or matching dummy capsules for 8 months. So far 26 patients (25% of the total required) have been enrolled.

Allergy to fungi is relatively common, affecting asthmatics, those with cystic fibrosis and others with chronic sinusitis (usually with nasal polyps which are extremely common among patients who are exposed to toxigenic molds). Fungi commonly implicated include airborne molds, such as Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Alternaria and Penicillium, with airborne fungal spores outnumbering pollen grains in outside air almost 1000-fold. Inside the home fungi are also very common, particularly in bedrooms and cellars, and compost is particularly rich in fungi.

The clinical study is funded by the charity The Moulton Trust as a grant to the University of Manchester. Its lead investigator Dr Robert Niven, of the North West Lung Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, said: “We have few options for patients with severe asthma other than prescribing more steroids, and those we do have can have side effects worse than steroids themselves. Antifungal treatment for those sensitized to fungi may be a useful additional strategy to improve the breathing and overall health of these patients. Certainly our limited treatment experience with Itraconazole suggests fewer admissions to hospital for asthma and reduced numbers of steroid courses.”

Four centers are currently enrolling patients: The North West Lung Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Hope Hospital (Ronan O’Driscoll); North Manchester General Hospital (Dr J Miles) and Preston Hospital (Dr A Vyas). The study is expected to conclude in 2006 when the results will be analyzed.

The importance of fungi to health will be highlighted at a conference in London on June 15th 2005 hosted by the Fungal Research Trust, a UK Charity devoted to education and research into fungal disease. The charity has supported research in Manchester and other UK centers.

The University of Manchester was formed by the merger of The Victoria University of Manchester and UMIST in October 2004, and with 36,000 students expected in the coming academic year is the largest higher education institution in the country. Its Faculty of Medical & Human Sciences is one of the largest faculties of clinical and health sciences in Europe, with a research income of over $37 million (approximately $55 million).

The School of Medicine is the largest of the Faculty’s five Schools, with 1300 staff, almost 2,000 undergraduates and a $32 million research income. The School encompasses five teaching hospitals, and is closely linked to a range of general hospitals and community practices across the Northwest of England.

Carolyn Willbanks
Author: Carolyn Willbanks

Tags: mold, toxic mold, antifungal, medicine, sporanox, itraconazole
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://www.mold-help.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/moldhelp-654x300.png 0 0 Carolyn Willbanks https://www.mold-help.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/moldhelp-654x300.png Carolyn Willbanks2005-06-15 16:05:532019-03-08 17:03:01Key Milestone in Antifungal Treatment for Severe Asthma
You might also like
Mold-Help logo Metro Tower Is Wary of Mold
Mold-Help logo City Approves Lease of Ex-Post Office to College
Mold-Help logo Following a Natural Disaster, Before You Enter Any Moldy Site
Stachybotrys mold in basement Rot, Mold and Termites: How to Keep Them Away from your Home by Keeping it Dry
Dog on chaircwillbanks Dangers of Mold for Pets
Mold-Help logo Davie, Springs Elementary Schools May Not Open Due To Mold

Resources & Tools

  • Private Research
  • Coping with Loss
  • Spiritual Definition
  • Legal Suggestions
  • Home Care
  • Tips for Parents
  • Health & Diet

Latest Posts

  • Michigan Family Finds Toxic Mold Inside Home
  • California Winter Storms: Water Damage and Mold Exposure Concerns in California
  • Office and Commercial Buildings at Risk for Mold after COVID-19 Closings
  • COVID-19 Symptoms May Include Loss of Taste and Smell
  • New Mold Detox Information on the Horizon
  • COVID-19 Courses of Action
  • Stachybotrys
  • Simple and Easy Ways to Prevent the Coronavirus
  • Your Air Conditioning Unit Helps Eliminate Mold
  • Construction Workers Are Learning to Control Dust and Debris

Search Our Site:

Need Help with Mold?

Are you being affected by mold or other mycotoxins in your environment? Our team and community has over 15 years experience and can provide guidance. You can reach us by submitting your contact or through our Facebook page.

Have a Story to Share?

We're looking for stories and input to expand our database and to add to the personal experiences we've received from the thousands of victims over the last 15. If mold has impacted your life, please take the time to share your story. Your information is confidential and will only be shared with your permission.

Seeking Mold Experts

Are you an expert in the treatment of mold-affected health illnesses, or a provider of services to victims of mycotoxin exposure? Submit your information for listing consideration in our Agencies & Experts resource database.

Additional Resources

  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Glossary of Terms
  • Survivor Resources
  • General Inquiries
  • Legal Disclaimer

© Copyright - Mold-Help Organization
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Mold Basics
  • Resources and Tools
  • Agencies & Experts
  • Mold News
  • About Mold-Help
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Accept settingsHide notification only