Recurring/chronic sinus infections

[Crunchfly]

My son's journey with PANDAS started a couple years ago with 8 recurrences of strep one winter. He had been symptom free for about a year and half when he became symptomatic again with a sinus infection recently. That sinus infection was treated with Augmentin and symptoms lessened, but it did not fully clear and he was put on Zithromax yesterday after he started running a fever. Thinking back, this is the fifth sinus infection since December.

 

Does anyone have experience with recurring or chronic sinus infections and PANDAS symptoms (would that be PANS now?)

 

Should we see an ENT? And if so, any recommendations for one in the DC area who is familiar with PANDAS issues?

[Sonshine]

DS has had a flare with a sinus infection also. He has had ear, throat, sinus, skin, UTI infections starting at 9 months and was recently evaluated for immune deficiency.

He has specific antibody deficiency and we are following up with an immunologist for further workup.

 

Is your son's pediatrician concerned about 5 sinus infections in the past 3 months? Is this the same sinus infection that is not being cleared by antibiotics? If your son

has been treated for PANDAS in the past, will that doctor make a referral?

 

Hopefully someone will come along and recommend a doctor in the DC area.

 

Hope you get the help you need.

[sf_mom]

Chronic sinus infections can be due to low MSH. Low MSH can indicate mold exposure. Yeast and/or fungus are often the cause of the continued stuffiness and do not respond to antibiotic therapies hence a chronic state. I would highly recommend a nasal swab to determine what is driving the sinus issue. There are antibacterials and antifungals that can be atomized to treat. If you are unable to get proper nasal swab from your current Dr. minimally ask to have MSH levels checked. Here is some information.

 

Is there any visible mold in the home or has he ever been exposed to moldy or musty smelling environments.

 

 

MSH - Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone

Normal Range: 35-81 pg/mL

Alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) has multiple anti-inflammatory and neurohormonal regulatory functions, exerting regulatory control on peripheral cytokine release, as well as on both anterior and posterior pituitary function.

In mold illness, MSH will be too low in over 95% of patients. This means increased susceptibility to mold illness, ongoing fatigue, pain, hormone abnormalities, mood swings, and much more. MSH is a hormone, called a regulatory neuropeptide, and it controls many other hormones, inflammation pathways, and basic defenses against invading microbes. Without MSH, bad things happen; chronic sleep disorders with non-restful sleep develop, and endorphin production is reduced, so chronic pain follows.

http://www.survivingmold.com/diagnosis/lab-tests

Edited March 29, 2015 by sf_mom

[911RN]

Sinus infections can/should be treated for up to 6 weeks with Augmentin. Zithromax is not usually drug of choice although some antibiotic is better than none, I suppose. I would take to ENT- PANDAS friendly or not. They are usually more aggressive with treatments for sinusitus than Peds.

 

Does he still have tonsil and adenoids? My non Pandas son had overgrowth of adenoidal tisue from recurrent sinus infections/ allergies and he was so much better when removed. They left his tonsils. Steriod nasal sprays were also helpful for symptoms during sinus infections.

 

If not treated for 6 weeks- he probably has never cleared original infection. Low level sinusitus keeps coming back?

[nicklemama]

We found out our son had allergies that were causing recurrent sinus infections. Treating the allergies and using a steroid nasal spray at the first sign of a runny or stuffy nose has kept him from having one in several years.