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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
5 year old, immune to anitbiotics....
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5 year old, immune to anitbiotics....
by ShannonB, Dec 03, 2003 12:00AM
My 5 year old has had chronic sinusitis for 4 years. He has had a CT. Everything looked normal. Has had aenoids removed. They grew back, but are of normal size. Has had sinusis' irrigated twice. Had negative result to Cystic Fibrosis test and Immune deficiency test was negative. Last irrigation was done 2 weeks ago, culture grew strep. Was put on Amoxil, one week later he is throwing up and running 103 fever. Was given 2 shots of Rocefzin (spelling??) and given Cefzil. In his 5 years of life, the longest he has ever been off of an antibiotic is 6 months. I am scared to death he will get severly sick and not respond to an antibiotic. What is causing all of these infections in his sinuses'??? No mucus will drain out of his nose, it just stays packed in his back sinus cavity. Is there something we are not looking at???? Please, please help me. I am at the end of my rope. The poor baby got up every morning for about 6 months and puked due to congestion. He has also been checked for Asthma and was diagnosed with excercise induced.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Dec 09, 2003 12:00AM
, Dec 09, 2003 12:00AM
It is certainly understandable that your son’s situation is so distressing to you.
Sinusitis is an inflammation, or swelling, of the mucous membranes that line the sinus cavities. Inflammation of the sinuses could be due to an allergy, an infection, or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke. Symptoms can include a headache or pressure in the area of the sinuses, a stuffy nose, achy teeth, postnasal drip, cough, sore throat, laryngitis, constant low fever, and thick, yellow to green nasal drainage. Generally a sinusitis will show up on a CT scan of the sinuses.
The most common cause of sinusitis is an infection, especially when the mucus is green. Sinus infections can be difficult to treat since they respond slowly. When a bacterial infection is the cause an antibiotic may be needed for at least 3 weeks. Bacteria can become resistant to a particular antibiotic, especially when that antibiotic is used repeatedly. When this happens it will take a different antibiotic to clear the bacteria. Even after the antibiotic clears the infection, it is possible for the inflammation to linger. However, inflammation of the sinuses could also be due to an allergy or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke.
This inflammation can block sinus drainage and cause increased mucus production. The mucus can drain from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat. This postnasal drip can cause coughing to the point of vomiting, especially first thing in the morning.
This can fester sinusitis. An antihistamine can dry up the postnasal drip. However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult for your son to blow out of his nose. A decongestant like Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) can relieve his blocked sinuses so the postnasal drip drains better. Check with your son’s doctor to see if either of these medicines would be helpful for him.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from the nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip and help your son’s sinuses to drain better. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your son’s doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
If your son’s symptoms continue, his doctor may recommend a prescription nasal steroid spray. This can decrease inflammation in the nose and sinuses and the mucus production. This generally provides a more lasting decrease in sinus congestion and improves sinus drainage. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may take several weeks of routine use to become effective.
You will need to work with your son’s doctor to learn why his symptoms are reoccurring and what treatment would be best for him. Please read our Sinusitis MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/sinus.html for further information. An ENT would be the type of specialist to identify if blocked sinuses are causing your son’s symptoms to continue and the best treatment.
With asthma there is swelling and tightness of the airways of the lungs. Also the airways of the lungs become more sensitive to a variety of things that make asthma worse. These things are called triggers and vary from person to person. Exercise is the only trigger for people who have exercise induced asthma. However both postnasal drip and sinus problems can also trigger asthma.
Sinusitis is an inflammation, or swelling, of the mucous membranes that line the sinus cavities. Inflammation of the sinuses could be due to an allergy, an infection, or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke. Symptoms can include a headache or pressure in the area of the sinuses, a stuffy nose, achy teeth, postnasal drip, cough, sore throat, laryngitis, constant low fever, and thick, yellow to green nasal drainage. Generally a sinusitis will show up on a CT scan of the sinuses.
The most common cause of sinusitis is an infection, especially when the mucus is green. Sinus infections can be difficult to treat since they respond slowly. When a bacterial infection is the cause an antibiotic may be needed for at least 3 weeks. Bacteria can become resistant to a particular antibiotic, especially when that antibiotic is used repeatedly. When this happens it will take a different antibiotic to clear the bacteria. Even after the antibiotic clears the infection, it is possible for the inflammation to linger. However, inflammation of the sinuses could also be due to an allergy or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke.
This inflammation can block sinus drainage and cause increased mucus production. The mucus can drain from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat. This postnasal drip can cause coughing to the point of vomiting, especially first thing in the morning.
This can fester sinusitis. An antihistamine can dry up the postnasal drip. However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult for your son to blow out of his nose. A decongestant like Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) can relieve his blocked sinuses so the postnasal drip drains better. Check with your son’s doctor to see if either of these medicines would be helpful for him.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from the nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip and help your son’s sinuses to drain better. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your son’s doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
If your son’s symptoms continue, his doctor may recommend a prescription nasal steroid spray. This can decrease inflammation in the nose and sinuses and the mucus production. This generally provides a more lasting decrease in sinus congestion and improves sinus drainage. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may take several weeks of routine use to become effective.
You will need to work with your son’s doctor to learn why his symptoms are reoccurring and what treatment would be best for him. Please read our Sinusitis MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/sinus.html for further information. An ENT would be the type of specialist to identify if blocked sinuses are causing your son’s symptoms to continue and the best treatment.
With asthma there is swelling and tightness of the airways of the lungs. Also the airways of the lungs become more sensitive to a variety of things that make asthma worse. These things are called triggers and vary from person to person. Exercise is the only trigger for people who have exercise induced asthma. However both postnasal drip and sinus problems can also trigger asthma.
Member Comments (9)
by ozark, Dec 03, 2003 12:00AM
has he ever been checked for a fungal infection? also has he been seen at a childrens hospital near you? has he ever been treated with a prednisone spray to help decrease the swelling? maybe they need to do an mri with contrast of his sinuses....has he been checked for allergies? dust especially? its good that his immune system is ok.....good luck and i hope you find out whats wrong
by ShannonB, Dec 03, 2003 12:00AM
He has not been tested for fungal. He has been tested for allergies, all negative. We also tried the steroid nasal spray. It did nothing. He hasn't been treated with steriods except for when his asthma reacted a couple of times, but shortly after treatment, he would flare up with his sinus' again. I am going to talk to his doctor about the fungal possibility. Thanks for your thoughts!!!
by burchm634, Dec 03, 2003 12:00AM
We are all concerned for you and your little one! Our hearts go out to you. Is is possible you have ever lived in the Southwest area of the United States or visited Mexico or any area nearby? Check out the question posted below yours by "terong". If you have been to that part of the US, California, NM, etc could there be a possibility of Valley Fever. My comments to terong might provide you with more info on VF or other fungal infections. The University of Arizona in Tucson has a Center for information on Valley Fever and many other fungal infections. Their website provides a hotline #, an email address, info for physicians that are unfamiliar with VF and ways to get in touch with them. These websites may also be helpful: www.valleyfever.com, www.ivillag.com, www.arl.arizona.edu. Their hotline #: 520 629-4777 and their email address: ***@****. Good Luck. There are many of us out here that do care!
by ShannonB