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An antifungal drug can be used to effectively treat some asthma sufferers, according to a new study.

The research carried out at four hospitals in the UK revealed that some 150,000 people suffering severe asthma could benefit from antifungal medication commonly available from chemists.

Asthmatic symptoms were found to be improved in patients who took pills used to treat everyday fungal infections.

Some 60 per cent of patients taking the oral antifungal drug itraconazole showed significant improvement in their symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing and hayfever-like complaints.

Commenting on the findings, Professor David Denning, based at the University Hospital of South Manchester, said: "Only patients with a positive skin or blood test for fungal allergy were included in the study.

"Severe asthma affects between five and 10 per cent of adult asthmatics and probably 25 per cent to 50 per cent of these patients showed allergy to one or more fungi."

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Asthma.