Allergies and Sinus Infection

A recent article by HealthDay reporter, Ed Edelson, indicates that allergens can worsen sinus infection. Excerpts from his article are reproduced as follows:


[MONDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) -- A new Dutch study provides solid proof that allergies can trigger the sinus problems that afflict millions of Americans.

When allergy-causing substances were dripped into the noses of people with chronic sinusitis, almost all of them developed significant sinus responses, such as inflammation, evident on X-ray and ultrasound images, according to a report in the December issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery by physicians at the Allergy Research Foundation in Breda, the Netherlands.]

[An estimated 30 million to 40 million Americans have chronic sinusitis, a swelling and inflammation of the maxillary sinuses located mid-face below the cheeks, said Dr. Michael Benninger, chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Head & Neck Institute. It's been known that a high percentage of them also have allergies, and the new study provides objective evidence of the link, he noted.

It's sometimes difficult to disentangle the two conditions, Josephson said. "Sometimes it's called an allergic sinus infection, sometimes an allergy," he said. "There can be sinus infection with accompanying allergy."]

[The study included 71 people with chronic sinusitis and 16 others who had nasal allergies without sinus disease. When allergy-provoking substances were dripped into the noses of those with sinusitis, 67 of them developed 104 nasal responses, with 89 responses showing significant changes in the sinuses. No significant sinus changes were seen in nasal tests of people without sinus disease or when nonallergic substances were dripped into the noses of people with sinus disease.

"What is interesting is that you see this response fairly quickly," Benninger said. "There is not just swelling in the nose, where the allergen is, but in the sinus as well as the nose."

The findings are directly applicable to clinical measures aimed at preventing and treating chronic sinusitis, Josephson and Benninger said.]

[Preventive measures aimed at allergies may be needed for a large percentage of people with sinusitis, Benninger said. Since response to allergens such as ragweed occurs quickly not only in the nose but also in the sinuses, "you can try treatment before exposure," he said. "Our response could be focusing on initiating treatment to prevent the allergic response."

Such treatment can include over-the-counter antihistamines or nasal sprays, Benninger said.]

It seems that people with chronic sinus infection often have some allergy issues. These could be airborne such as pollen, mold etc. Or the food that they consume could cause allergy symptoms.

One must always be aware of chronic nasal congestion, which is a significant sinus infection symptom. People who have clogged nose practically the whole day even if the are not sick run the risk of have chronic sinus infection.

There are various steps you could take in preventing sinus infection. The use of an indoor air purifier can greatly improve the environment for those who are susceptible to airborne allergens.

Another good way in maintaining optimum nasal health for everyone is through sinus irrigation with a neti pot. It is a very simple procedure but the benefits are immense. This is one of the proven and effective sinus infection home remedies.

Sinus Infection Misdiagnosed

Dr William S. Andereck, in his article, spoke about a misdiagnosed case of sinus infection. Excerpts of the article as follows:

[The phone rang at 3 in the morning. It was the emergency room. A fellow physician was calling.

"I want to tell you that we have found out what is wrong with your patient," Dr. Jones proudly proclaimed. He said she had arrived by ambulance at 10 the previous night after complaints of dizziness at a cocktail party. After determining that her blood alcohol level was low, the emergency room team considered the possibility of a heart attack and ordered a series of electrocardiograms and blood tests that ruled out that diagnosis.

There was no answer to what had caused her dizziness, which had subsided by then. The patient also reported that in the past week she had experienced discomfort in her face, just below the left eye. Additionally, she had had a skin cancer removed from her nose five years earlier. Faced with the possibility that she could be suffering from an extensive tumor, Dr. Jones ordered a CT scan of the head and sinuses. He had found the answer, and now he was calling me to see how I wished to proceed.

The patient was suffering from a sinus infection.

I listened patiently, clearing my head from sleep as Dr. Jones recounted his case. When he finished, I thought to myself that he should apologize to the patient for spending $10,000 to make a diagnosis that could have been made in a doctor's office in 10 minutes. ]

It is indeed appalling to realize the high cost of medical investigations today. What is even worse is the misdiagnosis of something like sinus infection that is not really life-threatening leading to the patient having to fork money that is totally unecessary.

Sometimes, it is better for us to understand more about the ailments that plague us so that there is a lesser chance of the doctors misdiagnosing.

Sinus infection dizziness normally affects older people.

Learn more about sinus infection symptoms and sinus infection treatment at Sinus Infection Help.

A sinus infection or just a common cold?

Sinus infections usually go untreated until it becomes acute. This is because many people cannot distinguish sinus infection symptoms from those of a common cold.

A recent article provides some insight into this issue. Excerpts are as follows:

[The common cold, also known as a viral upper respiratory tract infection, is a self-limited contagious illness that can be caused by a number of different types of viruses. More than 200 different types of viruses are known to cause the common cold. Because so many different viruses can cause a cold and because new cold viruses constantly develop, the body never builds up resistance against all of them. For this reason, colds are a frequent and recurring problem. In fact, children in preschool and elementary school can have three to 12 colds per year while adolescents and adults typically have two to four colds per year. The common cold is the most frequently occurring illness in the world, and it is a leading cause of doctor visits and missed days from school and work.

What are the symptoms of the common cold?

Symptoms of the common cold include nasal stuffiness or drainage, sore or scratchy throat, sneezing, hoarseness, cough, and perhaps a fever and headache. Many people with a cold feel tired and achy. These symptoms will typically last anywhere from three to 10 days.]

[What is the treatment for the common cold?

There is no cure for the common cold. Home treatment is directed at alleviating the symptoms associated with the common cold and allowing this self-limiting illness to run its course.

Supportive measures for the common cold include rest and drinking plenty of fluids. Over-the-counter medications such as throat lozenges, throat sprays, cough drops, and cough syrups may also help bring relief. Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) or antihistamines may be used for nasal symptoms. Saline sprays and a humidifier may also be beneficial.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) and ibuprofen (Advil and others) can help with fever, sore throat, and body aches.]

[Are antibiotics a suitable treatment for the common cold?

No. Antibiotics play no role in treating the common cold. Antibiotics are effective only against illnesses caused by bacteria, and colds are caused by viruses. Not only do antibiotics not help, but they can also cause allergic reactions that can be fatal (1:40,000). Furthermore, using antibiotics when they are not necessary has led to the growth of several strains of common bacteria that have become resistant to certain antibiotics (including one that commonly causes ear infections in children). For these and other reasons, it is important to limit the use of antibiotics to situations in which they are medically indicated.

Though occasionally a bacterial infection, such as sinusitis or a middle ear infection, can develop following a cold, treatment with antibiotics should be left at the discretion of your physician or health-care practitioner.

When should a doctor or other health-care practitioner be consulted?

Generally speaking, the common cold can be treated at home and managed with over-the-counter medications. However, if you develop more severe symptoms such as shaking chills, high fever (greater than 102 F), severe headache or neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing or chest pain, you should consult your physician or health-care practitioner immediately.

If you have a sore throat and a fever with no other cold symptoms, you should also be seen by your physician. This illness may be strep throat, a bacterial infection requiring treatment with antibiotics.

Finally, if you notice facial pain or yellow/green drainage from your nose accompanied by a fever, it is possible that you have a sinus infection (sinusitis) that would benefit from a medical evaluation and a possible course of antibiotics.]

Some of the sinus infection symptoms that is largely different from the common cold include sinus headache, pain in the upper molars due to a maxillary sinus infection, sinus infection dizziness and sinus pain in the areas of the infected sinus.

Perhaps the symptom that causes the most pain is a sinus headache and many people are searching for effective sinus headache remedies instead of resorting to drugs.

Tumeric and ginger for sinus infection

A recent article by Kelli Mae Willis gives us an insight of what Tumeric and ginger can do for our body. Excerpts are as follows:

[ Turmeric is a warming herb that relieves inflammation in the body. Many

of the foods that are central to the American diet, such as grains,

bread, and conventional animal fats, can contribute to excess

inflammation in the body. Inflammatory illnesses include allergies,

arthritis, asthma, and skin rashes such as eczema and psoriasis. Though

each of these ailments have very different symptoms, they are all

results of a similar imbalance in the body.

Turmeric is one of the best anti-inflammatory herbs, and doesn’t need

to be taken as a pill or tincture to be effective. Simply cooking

regularly with turmeric can help balance these problems.
Turmeric can also be taken in larger doses by drinking a teaspoon in

water 1-3 times a day. As a digestive aid, add turmeric to apple cider

vinegar, water, and honey to taste. The warming properties of turmeric

will increase “digestive fire.”

I have had great success with using turmeric during sinus infection as

well. If you have a sore throat, gargle with warm water and salt, apple

cider vinegar, turmeric, or cayenne powder. In India, I was instructed

to breathe in the steam from toasted turmeric powder to relieve sinus

pressure and congestion. I usually use turmeric powder rather than the

fresh root as it is more widely available and stronger medicinally.

Ginger is known in Chinese medicine as a panacea – an herb with

hundreds of applications. The easiest place to bring ginger into your

kitchen is in tea. Chop up about ½-1” of fresh ginger root into slices

and simmer in enough water for a cup of tea for 10-15 minutes. This

process is known as decocting an herb, and is commonly used to extract

denser plant parts like roots and bark.

Ginger tea is a remedy for many ailments, but especially stomachaches.

We are more familiar with ginger ale to relieve stomach sickness, but

ginger tea can be even more soothing. It acts as a digestive aid, adds

heat to the digestive fire, and also helps to dispel gas in the belly.]

Is it a cold or sinus infection?

As most people cannot tell between a cold or a sinus infection, this article by Jennifer Neff explains the difference between the two conditions. Excerpts of the article are reproduced as follows:

[ Susan Carol battled year-round sinus infections and colds for decades. She tried antibiotics and over-the-counter medicines to feel better, with mixed results.

"For years, I was confused about whether it was a cold or sinus infection," Carol said. "I just couldn't get better."

After a series of terrible sinus infections during the winter of 2008, the 54-year-old Fredericksburg native said she was referred to an allergist, who diagnosed a dust mite allergy.

Turns out that the sinus problems Carol experienced weren't just run-of-the mill colds. Allergies often play a big role in people's sinus woes.

Many people deal with irritated, inflamed sinuses by trying things such as over-the-counter nasal sprays, nasal rinses or antibiotics.

But it's important to distinguish between sinus infections--which may require antibiotic treatment--and other problems such as allergies or nasal polyps that call for different treatment.

INFECTED SINUSES

A sinus infection--known as sinusitis--occurs when the air-filled cavities, or sinuses, become inflamed or swollen.

Drainage becomes difficult, and mucus begins to build up, leading to sinus pressure and headaches.

Other symptoms of a sinus infection include:

Coughing

Aching in the upper jaw and teeth

Pressure around the eyes and nose.

But these symptoms also are associated with colds, which can make it hard to distinguish between the common cold and a sinus infection.

The main factor in determining whether a sinus infection is present is time. A good rule of thumb comes from Dr. Andrew Kim of the Allergy & Asthma Center of Fredericksburg:

If symptoms last less than seven days, the likely culprit is a cold caused by a virus, and antibiotics are not needed.

If symptoms last longer than seven days or get worse, the sufferer most likely has a bacterial infection or acute rhinosinusitis and will likely need antibiotic treatment.

Acute rhinosinusitis is a sinus infection that lingers for up to four weeks, Kim said. Treatment varies by person but may include a round of antibiotics, nasal rinses and decongestants.

If symptoms don't disappear after treatment, or if they rebound, then the problem may be chronic rhinosinusitis. Chronic rhinosinusitis lasts 12 weeks or more or is recurrent, according to Kim.

"Chronic sinusitis is usually caused by underlying conditions," Kim said.

Allergies, asthma, immune deficiencies, smoking and facial trauma all are closely associated with chronic sinusitis. So are anatomical obstructions such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps.

In rare instances, chronic sinusitis is caused by fungal infections, in which anti-fungal medicine is prescribed.

THE ALLERGY FACTOR

People with allergies are most likely to have chronic sinusitis, Kim said, so relieving their stuffy noses and facial pain means treating their underlying problem.

"Treatment of allergies definitely reduces sinusitis," Kim said.

Treatment ranges from over-the-counter medicines to allergy shots to, in some cases, surgery. People like Carol, with dust mite allergies, are encouraged to buy protective covers for their beds and pillows--dust mites are often found in bedding.

While over-the-counter medicines and decongestants are the most popular form of treatment for allergies, they come with a warning.

"If used chronically, symp-toms can become worse," Kim said.

Decongestants used for more than just a few days can cause symptoms to rebound and even become worse.

Allergy shots, which are less common, have more lasting effects than other medicines, studies say. According to one study reported in the Annuals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in 2004, 99 percent of 114 participants reported they thought their shots worked. Days off from school or work dropped by 72 percent.

Allergy shots not only help reduce allergy symptoms but also can help prevent asthma problems, as sinus troubles can cause asthma flare-ups.

For Carol, who long suffered from sinus problems, shots have helped. She said she started getting them a year ago.

"Even though I have the expense of the shots, it's more cost efficient," Carol said. "I'm going to the doctors less and now taking shots less. I just feel like I'm cured."

HOME REMEDIES

Though patients with sinus problems often are desperate for a pill to cure them, Kim cautions against the use of antibiotics.

"Most of the time you don't need antibiotics," Kim said.

Antibiotics have their place in the treatment of sinus infections, but overuse can breed antibiotic-resistant germs.

"It's not good to get antibiotics so frequently," Kim said. "We need to be more judicious about antibiotics."

Instead, Kim suggests first using home remedies such as nasal washes, neti pots and medicines containing Guaifenesin, and drinking plenty of water. Kim also suggests over-the-counter oral and nasal decongestants, but for only three days.

If problems persist, Kim recommends seeing an allergist for allergy testing, or an ear, nose and throat specialist to check for nasal polyps or a deviated septum.]

Reduce sinus infection risks by consuming more fruits and vegetables

A recent news article by David Liu reflects the importance of having more greens and fruits in our daily diet. Excerpts of the article as follows:

[ Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine researchers (BUSM)

found that eating at least seven servings of fruit and vegetables daily

moderately reduced the risk of an upper respiratory tract infection or

URTI.

The study of more than 1,000 pregnant women published in the journal

Public Health Nutrition showed that those who ate the most fruit and

vegetables were 26 percent less likely to have URTI than those who ate

the least amount.

But eating fruit or vegetables alone was not associated with reducing

the five-month risk of URTI. Women who were in the highest quartile of

fruit and vegetable intake were at reduced three-month risk than the

five month risk of URTI.

URTIs are the common cold and sinus infections that can lead to lower

respiratory conditions such as asthma or pneumonia. The majority of

affected people recovered without medical intervention.

Eating fruits and vegetables are known to boost immunity, but it has

not been known that eating fruit and vegetables may reduce the risk of

URTI in pregnant women.

It's recommended that pregnant women should consume at least five

servings of fruit and vegetables each day. But the current study

suggests that only as higher levels of consumption of fruit and

vegetables as 6.7 servings ]

Do you know that a sinus headache is the most uncomfortable of all sinus infection symptoms?

Learn about these proven sinus headache remedies at Sinus Infection Help.

Why our body produces mucus?

Medical columnist, Mitchell Hecht, wrote an interesting article about " Why the need for phlegm and mucus?"

Excerpts of the article are reproduced below for your convenience:

[Phlegm is just an accumulation of thick mucus secreted by cells that line the nasal and respiratory tracts. It's usually clear/white/yellow in appearance and is spit out with coughing.
Mucus keeps the respiratory and nasal tissue moist and lubricated so it doesn't dry out, and traps small particles of dust and other foreign matter so that they don't enter the tiny air sacs of the lungs (alveoli).

Along with the mucus, there are millions of tiny hairlike structures called cilia that line our upper respiratory tract. They beat and sweep away allergens, bacteria, and irritants trapped in mucus at a rate of 10-20 times per second in the direction of the mouth. Smoking causes cilia hairs to fall out, which is one reason why smokers get more respiratory infections than nonsmokers.

Normally, mucus is thin and watery, but in certain inflammatory situations like a cold or bronchitis, there's an excess of thick mucus (phlegm). Allergies, sinus infection, or irritants like cigarette smoke are triggers, which may cause an overproduction of mucus and a post- nasal mucus drip.

Chronic lung disease also can be a frustrating cause of phlegm. Postnasal mucus drainage on the back of the throat is very irritating and often causes a sore, scratchy throat by morning. During sleep, saliva production decreases, resulting in less clearing of mucus. When awake, you'll drink liquids to thin the irritating mucus and wash it away; you'll also swallow much more often. That's why you'll notice that your scratchy/sore throat is much better after drinking liquid (hot or cold), and as the day goes on.

Gargling also helps to bathe and rehydrate the irritated tissues. Thinning mucus with guaifenesin (e.g.- Robitussin, Mucinex) makes it easier to cough up and clear. If you're producing abundant phlegm and it's not clearing up, get it checked out by a doctor.]

It is important to be able to distinguish between normal mucus and sinus infection mucus. Learn how to tell the difference between sinus infection symptoms and what remedies are effective for sinus infection treatment.

Understanding Sinusitis

A recent article by Dr. Paul Lim Vey Hong explains very clearly what and how you get a sinus infection and the types of surgery available to chronic sinus infection sufferers.

Excerpts from his article as follows:

Sinuses are normally air-filled spaces connected to the nose and lined
by a thin lining called mucosa that is continuous with the lining of
the nose. The openings of the sinuses into the nose are tiny holes
called ostia (ostium=singu-lar) and the diameter of each ostium is
usually only a few millimetres wide.

The mucosa of the sinuses and nose contains mucous glands and numerous
microscopic finger-like or hair-like projections called cilia. These
cilia beat in a specific direction and transport the mucous produced
from the mucosa of the sinuses into the nose through their respective
ostia.

Everyday, the mucosa of our nose and sinuses produce approximately one
litre of mucous which is moved to the back of the nose by these beating
cilia and then swallowed subconsciously. Any condition that adversely
affects the mucosa, cilia or ostia will cause problems for the sinuses.

Being closely connected to each other, conditions affecting the nose
can easily affect the sinuses.

Inflammatory conditions

When inflammation occurs in the nose and sinuses, the cilia stop
beating and fail to transport the mucous, which then builds up in the
sinuses. At the same time, the mucosa lining swells up and blocks up
the ostia of the sinuses. The infection then changes the mucous from a
colourless fluid to greenish pus in the affected sinuses.

Sinusitis refers to this condition when the mucosa of the sinuses is
inflamed. Sinusitis and inflammation of the nose, known as rhinitis,
occurs as a result of allergy, infection, irritation from chemicals and
dust, or a combination of any of these. In some cases, the swelling of
the mucosa becomes severe and bulges outwards to form polyps, which are
like balloons filled with fluid. Such polyps can “grow” up to sizes of
several inches and obstruct the sinuses and nose.

The presence of polyps usually implies severe inflammation and allergy.
Individuals who suffer from asthma and allergic rhinitis are at higher
risk of developing polyps in their noses.

Sinusitis is typified by symptoms of blockage or stuffiness of the
nose, discharge from the nose, phlegm in the throat, loss of sense of
smell, headaches or/and pain of the affected sinuses. Infection of the
sinuses could be due to viruses, bacteria and fungus. “Colds” and flu
are due to virus infection of the upper airways.

Once infected, the mucosa of the nose and sinuses rapidly succumb to
secondary infection by bacteria. This is the reason for the change in
colour of the discharge of the nose and sinuses from the initial clear
colour to green when bacteria infection sets in. Most of the time, the
immune system fights off the infection and we recover after several
days when the cold or flu symptoms recede. Our noses clears up and the
discharge becomes increasingly less and clearer.

Sometimes the symptoms persist and we require a course of antibiotic
treatment to recover. When the duration of sinusitis lasts for days or
up to a couple of weeks, it is called acute sinusitis. When the
duration of an infection persists longer than a couple of weeks, it is
called chronic sinusitis.


Diagnosing sinusitis

The diagnosis of sinusitis can be made by simple clinical examination,
endoscopy of the nose, X-rays, computerised tomographic (CT) scans and
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Simple clinical examination involves
looking into the nose and if pus can be seen from the ostia of the
sinuses, then the diagnosis of sinusitis can be made. The method,
however is not very sensitive and sinus infections, polyps and tumours
can be missed.


CT scans of the sinuses give clear images of the sinuses and also show
the anatomy of the nose and sinuses in great detail. CT scans will pick
up minute changes in the sinuses and therefore its interpretation is
important with regard to the management of the patient.

The images consist of series of slices of the nose and sinuses from the
front to the back, like slicing a loaf of bread. Specialists rely on CT
scans as their maps of the nose and sinuses during surgery.

The limitation of CT scan is that the images captures are snap shots of
the state of health of the nose and sinuses at that point in time.
Therefore if a CT scan is done during or just after a cold, it will
show swelling and abnormalities in the nose and sinuses, even though
the nose and sinuses are normally healthy.

MRI is the newest imaging technology available. MRI is highly accurate
and reliable for information on the soft tissues of the nose and
sinuses. However, it is less favoured by specialists treating the
sinuses as MRI does not show the fine bone details and landmarks of the
sinuses. These bone details and landmarks are crucial during surgery to
guide the surgeon through the complex anatomy of the sinuses and skull
base, which has a high degree of variation from one patient to another.

Treatment

Infection and allergy are the main causes of sinusitis. Once sinusitis
is diagnosed, the treatment usually involves antibiotics to clear the
bacterial infection and topical decongestants to reduce the
inflammation and swelling. Where allergy is suspected to co-exist,
steroids and anti-histamines are used to further reduce swelling due to
the allergic reaction.

In the vast majority of cases of acute sinusitis, this treatment will
resolve the sinusitis. It must be stressed at this point that all
prescribed courses of antibiotics should be completed, with the
exception of allergic reactions to the antibiotic or when serious side
-effect occurs.

In cases where the sinusitis persists after a course of antibiotic
treatment, the choice of antibiotic used needs to be reviewed and a
different antibiotic should be prescribed. This is due to the ability
of bacteria to develop resistance to a particular antibiotic if the
antibiotic had been used frequently or injudiciously in the past.

For cases of chronic sinusitis or where medication and antibiotics have
failed to treat the sinusitis, surgery or sinus washouts will be
employed. A sinus washout can only be used for maxillary sinusitis and
involves a large needle being pushed from inside the nose and through
the thin bone of the sides of the nose into the maxillary sinus. Once
inside the maxillary sinus, any pus or mucous is sucked out and saline
is flushed through the needle into the maxillary sinus to wash mucous,
pus or debris out through the ostium of the sinus. This is therefore
only possible if the ostium of the sinus is patent and not obstructed
by polyps or soft tissue swellings.

This procedure can be done under local anaesthesia in the clinic or
under general anaesthesia in the operating theatre. Sinus washout is a
simple procedure but it does not correct any underlying abnormality of
the sinus as it serves only to flush out the infected sinus. For this
reason, sinusitis may relapse after sinus washouts.

Surgery of the sinuses for sinusitis basically involves re-establishing
drainage and aeration of the sinuses. It involves widening of the ostia
of the sinuses, removing solidified debris, pus or fungal material from
the sinuses, and removal of polyps or tissues obstructing the drainage
routes of the sinuses.

Surgery of the sinuses can be broadly divided into two types, the
“external” or “internal” approach through the nose. The “external”
approach invariably requires an external incision on the face or in the
mouth, thereby creating a scar while the “internal” approach avoids an
external scar by approaching the sinuses from the interior of the nose.

Surgery to drain the maxillary sinus “externally” through the mouth was
first described in 1743 in France by Lamorier and since then, various
external approaches to the sinuses had been described and widely
practised.

Following surgery, care of the wound in the nose and sinuses is
important. If wound care is less than optimal, the healing can be
complicated by excessive scar tissue formation that can obstruct the
sinuses again.

Likewise, infections can occur after surgery and this will need adequate treatment with the appropriate antibiotics to prevent re-infection of the sinuses and excessive scarring.

As we can see from the above article, sinus infection, if left untreated can cause a lot of pain and suffering. In particular, chronic sinus infection sufferers will understand the pain and suffering they have to go through and indeed, the quality of life suffers too!

What you can do to maintain good sinus health?

You just need to read up on home remedy for sinus infection and nasal irrigation. Adopt nasal irrigation in your daily routine and you will not succumb to the common cold and influenza so easily!

Balloon Sinusplasty for Sinus Infection Treatment

Balloon Sinuplasty can and will help those with Chronic Sinusitis caused by narrow sinus passages.

A recent article by Leslie Toldo explains why this is so. Excerpts of the article are as follows:

A new procedure recently approved by the FDA can clear the sinuses of both children and adults and have them on their feet the next day.

Sinus surgery can be hard on grownups, and even harder on children. So, this new procedure -- with less down time and pain than traditional sinus surgery -- may be a more kid-friendly solution.

For Andre Martinez, homework isn't a bore. It's the challenge that makes it fun every time. But for years, Andre was the puzzle. He suffered from severe headaches that sometimes landed him in the emergency room.

"I just had to like take some Tylenol and go to my room, shut the windows, close the door, and just bury my head under the pillow," he explained.

Trips to the pediatrician, neurologist and allergist offered no solutions. Finally, the answer came from an ear, nose and throat doctor. Andre's headaches were caused by sinus infections, which were worsened by his very small sinus openings.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases estimates 37 million Americans are affected by sinus infections -- or sinusitis -- every year. This adds up to $5.8 billion spent each year on health care costs related to the condition. Sinusitis takes place when the cavities around the nasal passages, or sinuses, become inflamed and swollen, tracking mucus and causing infection.

Since the sinuses aren't fully developed until the age of 20, sinusitis is more difficult to diagnose in children. In addition, children are more prone to sinus infections in the first few years of life since their immune systems are immature. If a child remains ill beyond the usual week to 10 days of a cold, a serious sinus infection is likely the cause of the symptoms.

Because antibiotics didn't work, Andre needed surgery. Surgeons used a new scalpel-free procedure to open up Andre's sinuses. Balloon sinuplasty involves inserting a tiny balloon through a catheter into the sinus cavity. That balloon is inflated to open up the passageway and then deflated and removed. Many patients can resume normal activities 24 hours after the surgery.

Eight months after surgery, Andre says he is enjoying a migraine-free life. The procedure is for children who have chronic sinus disease or problems. The condition is often caused by the common cold, but other triggers include allergies and fungal infections.

The Mayo Clinic says if a sinus infection persists for more than eight weeks or is recurrent, it is considered a case of chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis can also stem from growths in the sinuses called nasal polyps or a deviated septum, which is the partition between the two sides of the nose.

Risks of the procedure include brain fluid leakage and visual changes and infection -- the same as standard sinus surgery.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery says parents should look out for the following signs of sinusitis:

" A long-lasting cold accompanied by a low-grade fever

" Thick, yellow-green nasal drainage

" A post-nasal drip that causes sore throat, a cough, bad breath, nausea and/or vomiting

" A headache (a symptom in children age 6 and older)

" Irritability or fatigue

" Swelling around the eyes

The following articles may also be helpful in understanding sinus infection:

1. Sinus Infection in children

2. Are sinus infections contagious?

3. Eustachian tube dysfunction

4. Home remedies for sinus infection

5. Nasal irrigation

For more resources, please visit Sinus Infection Help.

How to tell if you have a sinus infection?

A recent article by Karan Minnis, covers the painful conditions brought by a sinus infection. Some excerpts from the article are reproduced below:

Coakley, 43, a resident of Grand Bahama, has suffered with acute sinusitis for a little over 10 years, which has forced him to undergo two surgeries to try to help solve his problems, on top of the multitude of medication he takes seeking some sort of relief.

"I have tried almost every medication out there, but nothing can really stop my issues," he said.

"In the past 10 years I have had two surgeries — one in 1998 and one in 2001, just to remove polyps from my sinuses which doctors said were causing my issues. About a year after each surgery, the issues would return."

The victim of chronic sinusitis, is fed up, and says he refuses to have another surgery, which he said have just been a waste of his money because he hasn't gotten a solution or relief to his problem."My issues came back every single time and I'm not about to waste more money for that to happen again. Instead I will just have to keep experimenting with medications until I find something that will actually work for a full day."

Sinusitis — an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages, is a common aliment that many people have to deal with. According to general practitioner Dr. Martin Brown at Kennedy Medical Centre, sinusitis sufferers know that the problem is not a joke.

"Sinusitis is really something that can ruin your day especially when the symptoms kick in because sinusitis, which is a sinus infection, can cause many issue like a headache or pressure in the eyes, nose, cheek area, or even on one side of the head and that can alone be painful.

Additionally a person with a sinus infection may also have a cough, a fever, bad breath, and nasal congestion with thick nasal secretions and none of these things can be considered fun."
Once you experience sinus symptoms, he says you should seek medical help, and not the other way around, when symptoms get extremely out of hand.

"Your doctor is there to help you, therefore you should call your doctor once you are experiencing pain or pressure in the upper face accompanied by nasal congestion or discharge, postnasal drip, or ongoing bad breath unrelated to dental problems. That is a sign that you need medical help and help is available," said Dr. Brown.

He said there are even home remedies, that most people can use, but that your treatment will depend on the type of sinusitis your are experiencing, of which there are two — acute, also known as sudden onset or chronic, which is known as long term, with chronic sinusitis being the most common type.

Both have varying symptoms. With the acute form of sinusitis, which usually lasts less than eight weeks or occurs no more than three times per year with each episode lasting no longer than 10 days, sufferers will have off and on nasal congestion with discharge or postnasal drip when mucus drips down the throat behind the nose, pain or pressure around the inner corner of the eye or down one side of the nose, a headache in the temple or surrounding the eye, pain or pressure symptoms which become worse when coughing, straining, or lying on the back. A fever is also common.

Chronic sinusitis sufferers have symptoms which usually last longer than eight weeks or occurs more than four times per year. Symptoms usually last more than 20 days, comes with nasal discharge, obstruction, and low-grade discomfort across the bridge of the nose, with pain that is worse in the late morning or when wearing glasses or even with colds, flu, or allergies.

A fever can be a symptom of a sinus infection or a cold. Also simple congestion with a low-grade fever can indicate a cold and may not call for medications or antibiotics, but when you have these symptoms and are also experiencing facial pain or headaches it's more likely that you may have a sinus infection.

Find out what the top 10 sinus infection symptoms are and the major causes of sinus infection at Sinus Infection Help.

When are antibiotics needed for acute respiratory tract infections?

I think a lot of us do not like to take medications. Whenever, we are sick, we are not sure if we should see a doctor. This is because our immune system can help us overcome infections when our body is strong. Even doctors, can be in a dilemma as when antibiotics should be prescribed for their patients.

This interesting article touches on the various types of acute respiratory infections and excerpts are reproduced below:

COMMON RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS

The most common viral ARI is an upper respiratory tract infection (URI), also known as the common cold. Most URIs are caused by viruses, with rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, coronavirus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza virus accounting for most cases.

Influenza is a systemic illness that involves the upper respiratory tract and should be differentiated from other ARIs, particularly during the months when the influenza virus is circulating. Influenza in adults is differentiated by acute onset, significant fever, and marked myalgias. Rapid antigen tests are available for diagnosing influenza, and antiviral therapy may be appropriate for certain patients.

Antibiotic treatment does not improve resolution of influenza infections or prevent complications. Only a small proportion of URIs become complicated by bacterial sinusitis or pneumonia; in these few cases, antibiotics may be useful. Most cases of uncomplicated URI resolve spontaneously within 1 to 2 weeks and require no treatment.

Acute sinusitis

Obstruction of the sinus ostia after a URI may result in rhinosinusitis or acute sinusitis. Bacterial and viral rhinosinusitis are difficult to differentiate clinically, and overdiagnosis of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis is common. The presence of yellow or green purulent secretions from the nares or throat, by itself, does not differentiate between a bacterial and a viral infection.

Generally, the diagnosis of acute bacterial sinusitis in adults should be reserved for patients who have symptoms for 7 days or longer, purulent nasal secretions, and maxillary facial or tooth pain. Symptomatic therapy is the preferred initial management for mild cases; the most narrow-spectrum antibiotic active against the likely pathogens, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, should be prescribed for patients with severe disease regardless of duration.

The dilemma in the treatment of URIs and sinusitis is the lack of a simple and accurate diagnostic test that reliably identifies rhinosinusitis; therefore, a clinical diagnosis is uncertain.

Pharyngitis

Many office visits to primary care providers are for pharyngitis. Viruses are the most common cause of acute pharyngitis, and the condition should be managed with supportive therapy that includes analgesics, antipyretics, and gargle.11 Group A streptococci (GAS) cause 15% to 30% of cases of acute pharyngitis in pediatric patients and 5% to 10% of cases in adults.

Patients infected with GAS, and a few other uncommon bacteria, will benefit from antibiotic therapy; therefore, the clinical goal is to identify those patients with a high probability of GAS infection. The most reliable indicators are fever, tonsillar exudates, tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy, and absence of a cough.

Patients with two or more of these features (referred to as the Centor criteria) are candidates for antigen testing or culture; patients with fewer than than two criteria do not need to be tested as they are less likely to be infected with GAS. Clinicians may choose to treat patients with at least three of the four clinical criteria empirically with antibiotics. Penicillin is the treatment of choice for pharyngitis caused by a GAS infection.

Acute bronchitis

This ARI manifests as a cough with or without sputum production and lasts for up to 3 weeks. Chest radiography findings are normal. Respiratory viruses are the cause of most cases of uncomplicated acute bronchitis; however, pneumonia must be considered in the differential diagnosis when patients present with an acute cough illness.

Signs of pneumonia include fever, cough, tachypnea, tachycardia, and evidence of consolidation on chest auscultation. The presence of purulent sputum is not predictive of bacterial infection. Patients with uncomplicated bronchitis may benefit from beta-agonist inhalers and antitussives. Acute bronchitis, like other ARIs, usually does not require antibiotic therapy.

Many people have had good sinus health once they adopted nasal irrigation. Nasal irrigation with a neti pot can help prevent one from catching the common cold and reduce the incidents of catching viral influenza.

For more information, visit Sinus Infection Help.

Medical procedure for recurring sinus infection sufferers

Mike Snider has been suffering from chronic sinus infection for a while and, in his article, he shares his experience about the balloon sinuplasty procedure he went through.

Excerpts from his article as follows:

Time for sinus surgery

I, along with about 14% of the U.S. population, or 37 million Americans, had chronic sinusitis, inflammation of the linings of the sinuses bad enough to block the drainage of mucus into the nose.

My path to surgery involved more than a decade of on-again, off-again congestion, pressure, trouble breathing and fatigue. Over the years, any time I flew in an airplane I was likely to develop a sinus infection.

Colds and flu could also cause them. Despite preventive measures — nasal steroid sprays, allergy shots and twice-daily sinus rinses — I regularly got infections that required antibiotics to subdue.
At their worst, my symptoms affected my work and my outside activities. Sometimes I couldn't sleep and often didn't have the energy to exercise.

I sought out numerous doctors and had several CT scans. One doctor attributed my face pain to migraines, and another surgeon suggested that I wait until my case became unbearable, as corrective surgery had no guarantees.

New way to open nasal passages

Last summer, I got a sinus infection that lasted for four months despite aggressive treatment of steroids and antibiotics. During the treatment, my allergy doctor referred me to a different sinus surgeon who had been doing a new procedure called balloon sinuplasty, which uses a small, flexible balloon catheter to open nasal passages.
"It is the evolution of the minimally invasive sinus surgery. So instead of actually cutting or removing tissue or bone, you are expanding a small balloon in the opening (of the sinuses)," says ear, nose and throat surgeon Jack Williams, "much like they do to open up a partially clogged artery."

In my initial examination, Williams said that my sinuses were swollen shut with trapped fluid in the frontal sinuses. Having performed more than 100 balloon procedures, he considered me a good candidate, but he also planned to correct a crooked septum as part of the surgery.

Each year, about 500,000 patients undergo the more traditional functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), in which a surgeon removes bone and tissue. I had been scared off those by horror stories of painful recoveries and repeat surgeries.
Williams described how balloon sinuplasty induces very little or no scar tissue and heals much better. "It's much less uncomfortable and takes a day or two recovery time."

Mike Snider is someone who is predisposed to getting recurring sinus infection. This is because he suffers from chronic nasal congestion as a result of the physical structure of his nose, a deviated septum and also very narrow nasal passages.

If you do not wish to go through sinus surgery, then one of the best home remedy for sinus infection is to perform nasal irrigation daily using a neti pot. For more information, please visit Sinus Infection Help.

A cautionary note to allergy sufferers with regards to self-diagnosis and medication

Dr. Sami Bahna, Chief of Allergy & Immunology at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, in recent article, mentioned that many people are resorting to self-diagnosis and medication for their allergies.

Excerpts from her article is as follows:

[ Dr. Bahna says it certainly brings more people into his clinic, there are still many more who self-diagnose the symptoms they're suffering, and that can lead to trouble.

"Allergies are the most commonly mis-diagnosed and the most commonly self-diagnosed." It's when patients try to self-treat that they might be missing out on a simpler approach - or making things worse all around. "Medications are well known, not just to any physicians, but even the patients know the names of the nasal sprays and the antihistamines and the eye drops," says Dr. Hanoi, who suggests a visit to the doctor is still the smartest approach - even when advice and experience from friends and family abounds, "Their knowledge alone is not the issue It's how to tune it up for that particular person, and sometimes, a little adjustment like that makes a BIG difference!"

Besides that, Dr. Bhana says some over-the-counter medications can actually make your allergy symptoms worse. "The over the counter nasal sprays are not good. it will relieve the obstruction, the blockage of the nose quickly - pleases the patient - and rebounds again like a rubber band!" While those saline nasal decongestants are fine in small doses at bedtime so you can sleep, they're not good for constant daytime use. Dr. Bhana says that can lead to allergy sufferers using them more often, which only end up increasing the symptoms.

Gone improperly treated for too long, all that drainage can turn into a sinus infection. You'll know it when the mucus becomes discolored. That means you have a secondary infection and you need to see your doctor and get an antibiotic to go along with your decongestant.

Here are some tips for surviving Spring allergy season:

1.Try to keep doors and windows closed.
2.Use the air conditioning in your house and car.
3.Stay inside when you can, especially on dry windy days.
4.Use a dehumidifier
5.Use high efficiency particulate air or HEPA filter in your bedroom
6.Avoid mowing the lawn or raking leaves.]

Effective allergy and sinus relief can take the form of over-the-counter medications and some proven sinus infection home remedies can work just a well too!

Usually, if you suffer from allergies often, it is highly possible that you get clogged ears regularly which may lead to Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.

For more information on sinus infection treatment and medical procedures for sinus infection such as balloon sinuplasty, please visit Sinus Infection Help.

Should antibiotics be the first choice in treating sinus infection?

Dr. Helen Minciotti wrote an interesting article about the use of antibiotics in treating sinus infection.

Below are excerpts from her article:

" Is there a time when upper respiratory infections do deserve treatment with antibiotics? Yes, under certain circumstances. Sinuses are cavities in the skull - basically, holes in your head - that become inflamed during colds. When this inflammation persists, sinuses can become infected with bacteria. If a cold lasts several weeks and a child shows no signs of improving on his own, he can have a true sinus infection.

Specialists at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center report that the three factors that most often predispose a child to bacterial sinusitis include these viral URIs, allergic inflammation and exposure to smoke. The Cincinnati researchers note that X-rays are generally not used to diagnose sinusitis, as it's really a clinical diagnosis, based on a child's presenting signs and symptoms. Major diagnostic criteria are: URI symptoms lasting more than 10 days without improvement, nasal congestion and discharge of any type - color, though parents often worry about the dreaded green "snot," is not considered diagnostic - and a cough which is usually worse at night. Other possible features of sinusitis are a low-grade fever, ear or throat pain, fatigue, bad breath, intermittent facial puffiness and face or tooth pain.

The bugs that cause sinusitis in children tend to be the same organisms that cause ear infections. Treatment, therefore, is generally the same, with the usual first line antibiotic of choice being high-dose amoxicillin for a 10- to 14-day course. Though a child will not be cured after 72 hours of antibiotics, parents should notify the doctor if they see no signs of improvement during this initial treatment period.

Saline rinses help some pediatric patients, while acetaminophen or ibuprofen can take the edge off sinus headaches and facial pain. The use of a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier in the bedroom can also make nighttime a little more comfortable for young sinus sufferers."

Being a chronic sinus infection sufferer for quite some years myself, sinus pain can be unbearable. When it comes to this stage, sinus infection treatment using antibiotics is really necessary in my opinion.

For more information on preventing sinus infection and whether sinus infections are contagious, please visit Sinus Infection Help.

Are you coughing and sneezing? It may be allergies

For many of you who are suffering from sinus infection or chronic nasal congestion, Dr. Rima Sanka of Advanced Allergy and Asthma Care in Pinellas Park says this season seems to be more severe.

In a recent news article, the Pinellas Park allergist says the climate and environment help dictate the allergy season. She says a colder than usual winter is partly to blame for more cases of allergy sufferers.

With symptoms like scratchy throat, sneezing and congestion, patients often confuse allergies with the common cold.

Dr. Sanka says, "People who suffer from allergies often have chronic recurring infections, like sinus infection, bronchitis infections, which can be more frequent and more severe."

And left untreated, experts say allergies can turn into asthma. "The most common type of asthma is allergic asthma. Allergies gone untreated, there's shortness of breath, chronic cough, night time cough, difficulty in breathing or wheezing," describes Dr. Sanka.

She says at the very least, allergies impact the quality of your daily life, from making you feel tired, to impacting your sleep, work performance and attention.

For more information on sinusitis or home remedy for sinus infection, go to the Sinus Infection Help.