Aerobiology of fungi associated with allergy.

Fungi are one of the most important allergens for susceptible individuals all over the world. They are ubiquitous in nature and are abundantly found in both indoor and outdoor air. The most predominant fungal types in outdoor air are Fusarium spp., Alternaria spp., Curvularia spp., Drechslera spp., Cladosporium spp. and in indoor air are Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. nidulans, A. versicolor, Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp. and Mucor spp. etc, There is a rich fungal biodiversity in India as well as in world environment both outdoors and indoors. Many fungi have been established as allergens by clinico-immunologic studies in Indian population. For efficient and effective diagnosis as well as therapy of patients suffering with fungal allergy, there is an urgent need to organize all the information available in the form of seasonal calendar in which all the allergic fungal types should be enlisted. This should be made readily available for the use of common man and physicians as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. An attempt has been made in the present chapter to provide an overview of fungal aerobiology and allergy in world with particular reference to type 1 hypersensitivity disorders.