POTSDAM – A Canton-Potsdam Hospital specialist in allergy, asthma, and immunology, has been invited by a professional panel to help review the way assessments and control of environmental hazards from fungi are done.

The request to Dr. Mohammed Aktaruzzaman (Zaman) came from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology’s (ACAAI) Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters, which guides physicians and other practitioners in diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to allergens.

“Worldwide, treatment of fungal infections accounts for a large portion of healthcare expenditure and leads to suffering that is, in many cases, unnecessary,” said Dr. Zaman. “Having appropriate guidelines by which to assess and treat these infections is one way to ensure that we are identifying them at an early, less-invasive stage, and that appropriate treatments are initiated,” he said.

Dr. Zaman said that the North Country is particularly vulnerable to mold and mildew infestations. Fungal infections can occur when the fungal spores become airborne and people breathe them in.

“The North Country’s many waterways are beautiful to look at, but create quite a damp environment,” said Dr. Zaman. “Damp basements are commonplace in the region. If water penetrates drywall or carpeting, mold and mildew will certainly result, and can make people very sick,” he said.

“Controlling dampness through use of dehumidifiers, eliminating porous materials in basements, and storing items off the floor can reduce the growth of molds and mildew and reduce fungal infections,” he said.

Dr. Zaman said the growth of some fungal infections, such as candidiasis (commonly known as a yeast infection), can be spurred by over-use or misuse of antibiotics. “Appropriate practice parameters are important for addressing antibiotic resistance and how it affects the balance of organisms in and on the body,” said Dr. Zaman.

Fungi are found in a variety of environments and may include mushrooms, mold, and mildew. Fungal infections may range from mildly annoying, such as athlete’s foot, to life-threatening systemic conditions, such as pneumonia, fungal meningitis, or systemic candida infections. People who have compromised immunity or who are housed in critical care units are particularly at risk for life-threatening complications of fungal infections.

Dr. Zaman joined CPH in March of 2013 and practices at the E. J. Noble Professional Building in Canton. Dr. Zaman received his medical degree in Bangladesh, after which he treated patients in rural areas of the country, serving as medical officer in a rural medical complex. Following his medical studies, Dr. Zaman completed a residency and fellowship training in pathology and immunopathology at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in New York. He then completed his residency in internal medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical Center/Case Western Reserve in Ohio, followed by a fellowship in allergy/immunology at East Carolina University Medical School in Greenville, N.C.

He is board certified in allergy, asthma, and immunology.

Last October, Dr. Zaman was appointed to the Integrative Medicine Committee, Sports Medicine Committee, and Indoor Environment Committee of the ACAAI.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Zaman, interested people may call 714-3170.