Overview:
A nasal swab is used to diagnose fungal infections. For this procedure, secretions from the back of the nose and upper throat are collected using a swab. Sometimes, a suction device may be used to gently remove the secretions. This is known as a nasal (or nasopharyngeal) aspirate.
A fungus is a type of germ that lives in the air, soil, and plants, and even grows on our own bodies. There are more than a million different kinds of fungi. Most are harmless, but a few types of fungi can cause infections. There are two main types of fungal infections:
- Superficial (Affecting parts of the outer body) affects the skin, genital area, and nails. Superficial infections include athlete's foot, vaginal yeast infections, and ringworm, which is not a worm but a fungus that can cause a circular rash on the skin. While not serious, superficial fungal infections can cause itchy scaly rashes and other uncomfortable conditions.
- Systemic (affecting systems inside the body) affects the lungs, blood, and other systems in the body. These infections can be serious.
WHAT DOES THE TEST MEASURES?
A fungal nasal swab test is done to detect the presence of fungi in the nasal cavity. A positive test means that it is likely that the fungus tested is the cause of the person's infection.
Q1. How is the test performed?
To conduct a nasal swab, the doctor will insert a small, soft-tipped swab into each of the nostrils and twirl it a few times until it is covered in secretions. This may be a little uncomfortable but should not be painful.
Q2. What are the symptoms of superficial fungal infection?
Symptoms of a superficial fungal infection include:
- Red rash
- Itchy skin
- Itching or discharge in the vagina (symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection)
- White patches inside the mouth (symptoms of a mouth yeast infection, called thrush)
- Hard or brittle nails
Q3. What are the symptoms of systemic fungal infection?
Symptoms of a more serious, systemic fungal infection include: