Fungal sinus infection

[cobbiemommy]

DS, 12, has been on slit therapy for allergies for three months now, along with generic Zyrtec daily and Benadryl. He is also on high dose of Ceftin for Lyme/Bart/Babs.

 

After all this, he still has sinus issues. Lots of goop, drainage from ears, and dry nose. We found mold in our house and remediated, but wonder if there could still be a fungal infection. He has been swabbed which came up negative, but never had a CT scan. We see a wonderful ENT that works closely with our LLMD.

 

Has anyone ever had this? How did you ask for the CT scan? Could fungal infection cause the autoimmune component? What was the result after treating a fungal infection.

 

We have stalled in our Lyme treatment, so I am trying to think outside the box.

 

Thanks for any help you can give....

[kimballot]

HI Cobbie's Mom -

 

You might find this thread interesting - it is from 2010, but was very thorough. http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=9549&hl=sherris&st=0

 

 

Also - I am wondering if your son has been checked for pneumococcal titers (low titers make sinusitis more likely), and for IgA titers (IgA is in mucus and is one of the first defenses against infection).

[911RN]

DS, 12, has been on slit therapy for allergies for three months now, along with generic Zyrtec daily and Benadryl. He is also on high dose of Ceftin for Lyme/Bart/Babs.

 

After all this, he still has sinus issues. Lots of goop, drainage from ears, and dry nose. We found mold in our house and remediated, but wonder if there could still be a fungal infection. He has been swabbed which came up negative, but never had a CT scan. We see a wonderful ENT that works closely with our LLMD.

 

Has anyone ever had this? How did you ask for the CT scan? Could fungal infection cause the autoimmune component? What was the result after treating a fungal infection.

 

We have stalled in our Lyme treatment, so I am trying to think outside the box.

 

Thanks for any help you can give....

 

 

A CT may not be necessary- if he is actually having drainage from ear orifices- not internal sinus drainage- then you can ask that drainage be cultured. Same goes for nares- have them do a swab of nares and culture. If yeast or fungus is present- it will culture out. Or,may culture out with sensitivities that tell you the best antibiotic that should be to treat (if infection is pesent). Just another option. You said he was swabbed but I'm, thinking that may have just been a throat swab?

[JuliaFaith]

DS was swabbed while asleep in the sinus for MARCons, coagulase negative staph, mold growth. The doctor was shocked that it came back positive with the first try. She thinks that since he was asleep the ENT was able to swab more deeply than normal. Have you done an ERMI to see if mold in home is 2<? After remediation we are going to do ERMI again in 3 months to make sure level is low enough for son to remain in the home.

 

Just a thought.

Edited October 9, 2011 by JuliaFaith