Efficacy of Itraconazole in the Treatment of Patients with Chronic Cough Whose Sputa Yield Basidiomycetous Fungi—Fungus-Associated Chronic Cough (FACC)

Abstract

Low-dose itraconazole was shown to be an effective antitussive in patients with chronic cough in which sputum examination yielded BM fungi. The 21 patients described here entailed the following manifestations: (1) chronic cough; (2) the presence of environmental fungi, particularly basidiomycetous (BM) fungi, in the sputum; and (3) good clinical response to antifungal drugs. These clinical features may constitute a unique disease concept called fungus-associated chronic cough (FACC).