RESPIRATORY DISORDERS EXPERT FORUM
chronically ill child

chronically ill child

My 28 month old was first diagnosed with a sinus infection when she was 13 months old, she has been sick ever since. She has been on prolonged antibiotic therapy over 10 times with shorter doses in between that did not help, she has been seen and diagnosed with sinus infections 15+ times, each one worse with increased coughing and chest congestion and each one taking longer to recover from with only about 6 days of complete wellness in between. She has been to an ENT and has had her adenoids (adenoids) removed, she was sick with a sinus infection within two weeks. She has had several sinus CTs done and chest films. Recently we saw a  pediatric pulminologist who diagnosed her with RAD and has her an Pulmicort, Zopenex, Prednisolone, Singular, Previcid, Duradryl, and Nasanex, and a daily dose of amoxicilin, she has been on and off Zyrtec for 1.5 yrs. with no real relief. He is working on a preventative maintenance plan as well.
She has had a full immunology work up and every thing looked ok. She was borderline on her IGG type 56 and type 4(?) but none of her dr.'s seem concerned about that.
She is not sleeping or eating.
What is the long term effect of being so heavily medicated for such an extended period of time and what would be a proper maintenance program for a child with chronic sinusitis and RAD? Is there anything we could be over looking that is causing her to stay sick?
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Sinusitis is an inflammation 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, an odor coming from the nose, postnasal drip, cough, sore throat, laryngitis, lightheadedness, constant low fever, and thick, yellow to green nasal drainage.

The best way to identify a sinus infection is with a sinus CT scan, although sinus x-rays are a decent alternative.  A sinus CT scan will also identify if any of the openings that drain your sinuses are blocked.  If your daughter
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I'm not a doctor but I do STRONGLY suggest that you have a Sweat Chloride Test done on your child to test for cystic fibrosis...I'm not saying she/he has it, remember i'm not a doctor.  But with the reccurrent sinus problems, being sick, and not eating those are all signs that are linked to CF.  Ask your pulmonologist to do a sweat chloride test, even if it does turn out to be negative, atleast it's something you can try that might give you answers.  I am a respiratory therapist at a children's hospital and I work with CF patients on a daily basis.
I hope this helps!
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