Managing sinus infections
Pressure in the face associated with fever and colored nasal
drainage is often diagnosed as a sinus infection and
treated with antibiotics. When the
frequency of this diagnosis becomes intolerable, an
approach toward accurate diagnosis and management action plan becomes necessary.
The initial issue: Is it one infection re-flaring, or series of separate infections ?
The work-up of recurrent infection
A plain X-ray or CT scan of sinuses
Screening allergy skin tests
Gamma Globulin levels – the G, A, M
Antibodies are defensive
antibodies.
Deficits can produce infection. E
Antibody is the allergy antibody –
elevations are associated with
allergy.
Antibody response following vaccination with Tetanus and Pneumococcus boosters
(blood initially and 4 weeks later)
Reasons for Sinus Infection When the sinuses cavities don’t drain well, stagnation, and bacterial infection occur. The most common reasons for poor drainage:
Allergic swelling
Viral infection (lots of exposures)
Structural blockage (polyps)
Scarred sinus opening
Smoking
Cilial Dysfunction
Immune deficits
DO it yourself: Here is a crucial skill - a sinus irrigation. Actually, it's just nasal irrigation - but the fluid will wash away clots that form to block the sinus openings. We also will sometime put antibiotics into the sinus rinse bottle. Watch this little 60 second Youtube video
Here is how they do it surgically - the Balloon
click for little you tube video.
