Severe asthma with fungal sensitization in a child: Response to itraconazole therapy

People with severe asthma with fungal sensitization may represent an underdiagnosed subset of patients with refractory disease. It is important to know that such patients may benefit from adjunct treatment with antifungal agents. We describe here the case of a child with refractory asthma, persistent airway obstruction, a serum immunoglobulin E level of >20 000 IU/mL, and severe eosinophilic airway infiltration. Although he did not meet diagnostic criteria for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, he demonstrated evidence of sensitization to several fungi and responded dramatically to the addition of itraconazole therapy. We also discuss emerging hypotheses regarding fungal-induced asthma.