Paediatric Sinusitis – Part 3 (What are the symptoms and who is more likely to develop Paediatric Sinusitis?)

What are the symptoms of Paediatric Sinusitis?

Symptoms in children tend to be more pronounced than those of adults.

• A runny nose with colored nasal mucus. Mucus may be yellow or green and can even be clear in color. Mucus drains in large amounts.
• Coughing, a sore throat and bad breath (halitosis) with accompanying post nasal drip or mucus running down the back of the throat.
• A fever or increase in body temperature.
• Lethargy
• Facial pain (usually occurs only in children older than 5) and swelling in certain areas such as around the eyes and cheeks may occur. Headaches may also be present.
• Cold or flu-like symptoms that last for more than two weeks / 14 days.
• Vomiting and nausea or even an upset stomach
• A foul odor emanating from the nasal passages.

 

Symptoms vary depending on the level of sinusitis a child has:

 

Acute Sinusitis	Sub-acute	Chronic Sinusitis	Recurrent Sinusitis
Lasts for over two weeks Coughing Congestion Rhinitis or a runny nose A fever Ear infections or otitis media (middle ear infection) Pain in the forehead region or headaches Symptoms similar to those of a cold or flu are experienced.	Inflammation, swelling and discomfort felt for 1 to 1 ½ months. Yellow, cloudy or colored nasal mucus. Symptoms of acute sinusitis are present.	Sinusitis that has lasted for over 2 months. Yellow or green nasal mucus. All symptoms of acute sinusitis are present.	Sinusitis that has progressed on and off for a period of 1 year. Persistent coughing Recurrent Sinus infections over a period of time. All symptoms of acute sinusitis are present.

Who is more likely to develop Paediatric Sinusitis?

Paediatric sinusitis is not more prevalent with regards to race, sex and age.

Paediatric Sinusitis – Part 2 (What causes Paediatric Sinusitis?)

 

What causes Paediatric Sinusitis?

 

Causes
Viruses	Viral infections are one of the main causes of upper respiratory tract infections as these can be spread easily from one person to another via contact with an infected person. This also means that it becomes difficult for one to regulate a child’s interaction especially during day care as they often come into direct contact with other children. There is no definite cure currently available for viral infections.
Bacterial Infections	Staphylococcus Areaus is a common bacterium known to cause sinus infections. Bacterial infections are usually treatable with antibiotics.
Gastro Oesophageal Reflux (GERD)	Any reflux of stomach acids from a child’s stomach rising up the oesophagus can cause severe irritation of the tube linings close to the throat or naso-pharynx. This can result in the development of more mucus flowing down the posterior nares and increases the incidence of mucus production and post-nasal drip.
Certain environmental items	Tobacco smoke and pollutants in the air can increase a child’s susceptibility to developing sinusitis.
Immune Deficiency	A child’s immune system is immature up until the age of seven. This makes a child more susceptible to developing sinus infections.
Cystic Fibrosis	Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary condition. Children born with cystic fibrosis experience thick, mucus secretions that are sticky and difficult to dislodge. This thick nasal mucus can build-up in the digestive tract and lungs. Cystic fibrosis  is a life threatening condition in young children and can lead to chronic lung disease. Children with cystic fibrosis are also more likely to develop multiple sinus conditions over their lifetime.
A deviated nasal septum	A child can be born with a deviated nasal septum. This is an anatomical defect which in most cases does not cause further problems. In some cases the deviation can be so pronounced that it prevents effective mucus drainage.
Diseased Haller cells	Haller cells can occur in the maxillary sinus cavities and are a variant of ethmoidal air cells. When these become diseased, they grow causing an obstruction in the sinus cavities as well as cause a narrowing of the exit ways for mucus to drain from the sinus cavities.
Cilia Disorders or damage	Disorders affecting the cilia result in impaired mucus transportation and removal from the nasal passages and sinus cavities. The mucus that is not removed from the sinus cavities and nasal passages is allowed to stagnant and dry-out resulting in the development of acute sinus infections. One such disorder is known as immotile cilia syndrome.
Immunoglobulin levels	Tests for Immunoglobulin-E are not performed on children younger than three years of age due to them not being reliable at this age. Immunoglobulin tests are performed to determine if allergies are present.
Nasal Polyp Formation	The development of a non-cancerous growths or nasal polyps is very rare in children. Should your child develop a nasal polyp please have him or her tested for Cystic Fibrosis.
Allergic Rhinitis / Asthma	Allergic Rhinitis causes an increase in mucus production by the mucus membrane linings in the nasal passages and sinus cavities. Rhinitis is very common in children suffering with asthma (allergic or non-allergic). This can lead to post nasal drip and upper respiratory tract infections in children if not treated in a timely manner.
Allergic Fungal Sinusitis	Studies have found that there is a higher incidence of allergic fungal sinusitis in children when compared to adults. Allergic fungal sinusitis is an allergic reaction caused by fungi or mold. Fungi and mold are airborne and are therefore easily able to enter the sinus cavities and nasal passages. Fungal allergies are highly resilient and are why treatment should be sought immediately to prevent a further spread of fungal spores. Aspergillus is one of the main culprits of allergic fungal sinusitis in children. Blocked nasal passages, post nasal drip, headaches, excessive rhinorrhoea and a foul smell emanating from the nasal passages may be experienced. A combination of antihistamines, immunotherapy, corticosteroids and antifungal medications may be prescribed.
Rhino-Sinusitis	Any inflammation or swelling of the sinus cavities (may be caused by an allergy, infection or even an autoimmune disease) and can result in an irritation or swelling of the membrane linings. Any increase in membrane swelling results in a decrease in drainage space, allowing for the accumulation and build-up of excess nasal mucus.
Concha bullosa, (aerated middle turbinate)	Concha bullosa is an air filled cavity within the middle turbinate. In certain circumstances, a large air pocket may form within the turbinate causing it to bulge to one side. This can in turn result in a smaller nasal passage through which mucus can drain resulting in an accumulation and build-up of nasal mucus.

Paediatric Sinusitis – Part 1 (What is Paediatric Sinusitis?)

What is Paediatric Sinusitis?

Babies are born with no immune system and it is only though the mothers breast milk that some immunity is acquired. As a baby grows and develops into a child he/she begins to slowly develop his/her immune system.

As ones immune system is not developed before the first several years of one’s life, it makes it easier for viruses, bacteria and other harmful agents to wreak havoc on a child system. Children are most susceptible to developing infections in the sinus cavities, nose and ear regions.

Paediatric sinusitis occurs when a child develops sinusitis after a normal cold or flu. Should this sinusitis persist, it can develop into chronic sinusitis. Physicians and otolaryngologists are often consulted to treat not only sinusitis but also help with associated symptoms. Antibiotics are usually the recommended treatment for paediatric sinusitis.

Children, like adults have 4 paired sinus cavities, the maxillary, sphenoid, ethmoid and frontal sinus cavities. At birth children have their ethmoid and maxillary sinus cavities and as they grow, the sphenoid and frontal sinus cavities develop. This occurs around the ages of 5 and 7. A child’s sinus cavities are smaller in size and have smaller openings through which mucus can drain. It is also more common for children to develop sinusitis in their ethmoid and maxillary sinus cavities.

There are three distinctions that differentiate levels of sinusitis in children:

1. Acute Sinusitis occurs when one or more of the sinus cavities become infected and inflamed.
2. Chronic Sinusitis occurs when the condition has persisted for longer than two months.
3. Recurrent Sinusitis occurs when a child keeps developing sinusitis over a period a time with medical treatment providing only temporary relief.

The development of chronic sinusitis can often be a result of an immunodeficiency in a child, cystic fibrosis, an allergy such as hayfever or allergic rhinitis or even a syndrome whereby the cilia’s functioning is impaired called Immotile Cilia Syndrome.

What makes it so difficult to effectively treat bacterial sinusitis is that if a child is given antibiotics too frequently his or her body can build up a resistance to antibiotics. Frequent antibiotic use can also result in unwanted negative effects on a young child’s development.

Please be aware: Any cold or flu like symptoms that your child has and that persist over a period of 10-14 days are not always caused by a sinus infection as these can also be related to a common cold or flu.

SINUSITIS

SINUSITIS- occurs when the small, air filled spaces inside the cheekbones and forehead become inflamed due to bacterial or viral infection. This can occur in two forms; namely acute or chronic sinusitis.

• Acute sinusitis is when the infection only lasts for a week or a few days or up to 12 weeks. While some people will only experience its symptoms once or twice in their life time, many people experience it more frequently.
• Chronic sinusitis is the kind of sinusitis that last longer than 12 weeks, meaning that the symptoms become more agonizing and aggressive as time goes by.

The causes of Sinusitis

• Mucus build-up in the sinuses is known to prolong the infection which is then likely to lead to chronic sinusitis.
• Inhaling or sniffing substances that irritate the lining of the nose.
• Dental infections that spreads from an infected tooth to a maxillary sinus.
• Colds and flu caused by bacteria or virus which spreads to the sinuses.
• Weak immune system leaves one vulnerable to any infection
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy can trigger nasal inflammation.
• Asthma, smoking, diabetes, and previous injuries to the nose or cheeks.

Symptoms of Sinusitis

• Feeling either facial pain or fullness
• Having green or yellow discharge
• Lack of sense of smell
• Post Nasal Drip
• Halitosis
• Rhinitis
• Pressure and Headaches

 

How to treat Sinusitis?

Having identified the symptoms and an examination done, your doctor will provide a diagnosis in order to conclude on the underlying problem causing your sinusitis.

Homeopathic remedy can and has provided the most effective relief from sinusitis symptoms. http://www.sinuswars.com/sinusitis.asp

Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis – A Killer in Itself

An eye, nose, tooth or throat infection left untreated has the potential to spread to the sinus veins located behind the eyes causing blood clots which have the potential to become fatal. This is what happened in 2006 with a 17 year old dying from this condition.

Surgeons have however noted that this condition is rare and research is still underway to find out why the infection spreads to the sinus veins behind the eyes.

Other signs of Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis include a loss of vision, bulging eyes, headaches  and a swelling of the conjunctiva, symptoms not uncommon with sinus infections.

Ever wondered just how effective those tablets your Doctor prescribed for a common cold really are?

That’s exactly what I ended up wondering after returning home with a shopping bag full of antibiotics, pain medications, mucus relievers and other smarty-like tablets. Wow, I’m starting to sound like one of those neurotic people that goes to the Doctor for the faintest of sniffles but in reality, I only really get a cold every winter season and most do go away on their own; but my latest one seems to have become super resilient to what I term my “inner fighting abilities” because I just couldn’t seem to rid myself of the cold symptoms well into the second week.

So what did my research uncover? Overall findings show that my common cold is a result of viruses and not bacteria however antibiotics are used to treat bacterial invasions and not viruses… interesting… so why all the antibiotics especially considering using antibiotics when there is no infection, can be both harmful and can lead to possible allergic reactions when overused?

One of the main reasons behind the recommendation of antibiotics for colds is that they have been found to help in treating cough symptoms with a recent study being performed on children with colds and accompanying cold symptoms. The main benefit found here was that antibiotics and anti-tussive medications (Capable of relieving or suppressing coughing) or a combination of both helps alleviate coughing which can be quite intense in children and infants so there may be a high possibility that giving antibiotics to alleviate coughing allows the child’s “inner fighting abilities” to kick-into-gear, assisting it in treating the actual cold.

Natural Flu Treatment

With natural treatments such as the SinusWars OriFlu and Cold Remedy, it’s not just the coughing that’s treated; sneezing, headaches, low grade fevers, dreaded muscles and joint aches together with chills, shivering and a runny nose are all assisted. With this remedy these symptoms are not just masked as it helps to strengthen a battered-and-bruised immune system, ensuring it bounces back into tiptop shape and ensures a cold or flu doesn’t linger for longer than absolutely necessary. 

So if your “inner fighting ability” has taken an early Christmas vacation or just down-tooled on you, don’t fret… perhaps take treatment measures from the onset the natural way and if this doesn’t work, you can always make that appointment with your GP for the inevitable recommendation of antibiotics; if only to treat your coughing.

SinusWars13 a Revolutionary Products that goes to the ROOT cause of Nasal Polyps

Natural Nasal Polyp Treatment

Nasal Polyp removal is becoming a common practice at most ENT’s as steroidal treatments are no longer working. SinusWars has worked extremely hard during the last 10 years to perfect a remedy that target all known aspects of nasal polyps. By working in 3 layers SinusWars13 targets that hard to reach places and assist your body in removing the unwanted growths.

These growths (nasal polyps) often cause congestion, discomfort and become a breeding ground for bacteria. Various homeopathic remedies are on the market but only treat one possible cause and not the underlining factors causing the Polyp. SinusWars looks at the whole pictures and is jam packed with only the finest ingredients targeting each and every aspect ensuring your polyps shrink and don’t bother you again.

The Sinuswars13 Remedy assists in the following ways:

• Treating nasal polyps
• Reduction of current nasal polyps
• Prevents the recurrence of polyps post-surgery
• Reduces nasal bleeds associated with nasal polyps
• Decreases the size of current nasal polyps
• Reduces swelling and thickening of mucous membrane linings
• Alleviates pain caused by nasal polyps
• Stops mouth breathing and assists in treating snoring caused by nasal polyps

USA Website:
http://www.sinuswars.com/remedies/SinusWars13.asp

Canadian Website:
http://www.sinuswars.ca/remedies/SinusWars13.asp

United Kingdom Website:
http://www.sinuswars.co.uk/remedies/SinusWars13.asp

The Dreaded Sneeze

Allergen

Sneezing is regarded as a forceful, sudden, uncontrolled burst of air through the mouth and nose.

What causes Sneezing?

Sneezing is usually caused by an irritation to the mucus membranes of the throat and nose and not usual a sign of a serious problem. Sneezing is a response from the sinus passages attempting to clear its passages of foreign objects.

Sneezing can be triggered by:

• Flu and cold.
• Allergens such as pollen, dust, mold and dander that you may be allergic too.
• Inhalation of drugs.
• Triggers such as air pollution, certain medicines, powders, spicy food and strong emotions.
• Breathing in corticosteroids.

The nose acts as a filtration device, and it removes the allergens by expelling them in a sneeze. The allergens that enter the nose are made up of tiny particles and it can take multiple sneezes to remove the irritants.

Homecare for Sneezing

The best way to control sneezing is to avoid exposure to allergens. Preventions or Ways to reduce the exposure:

• Minimize animal dander by removing pets from home.
• Go places with low pollen counts.
• Air filters may be used to reduce pollen in the air.
• Change furnace filters.
• Kill dust mites by washing linens in hot water.
• Remove carpets – if carpets can’t be replaced by a solid, then it must be cleaned thoroughly and frequently.
• Vacuum upholstered furniture, draperies, and other fabric items that cannot be washed, removed, or replaced regularly.
• Remove as much clutter as possible to make cleaning easier.
• Damp dusting using a dampened cloth or an oiled mop will minimize the distribution of dust through the air.

Baby’s Room – Special Tips

• Wood or plastic chairs are best for baby’s room.
• Use dust-proof casings for all bedding.
• Stuffed animals should never be placed in the crib and should be washable.
• Animal fur and dander is a potential allergen so best to keep pets out of the baby’s room.
• Overhead mobiles and wall hangings collect dust.

In most cases, moving out of the house where there is a mold spore problem can be helpful. Sneezing that is not caused by an allergy will disappear when illness causing it, is treated or cured.

 

Natural Treatment for Sneezing

SinusWars1 is a natural remedy that helps your body to build up a resistance against allergens, which cause your body to react violently resulting in unpleasant symptoms such as sneezing, running nose, headaches etc.

SinusWars1- Allergy Force (Comprehensive Allergy Treatment) treats the following symptoms:

• ALL TYPES OF ALLERGIES
• Sneezing and coughing
• Itchy and irritated eyes
• Allergies caused by pets, dust, pollen, dairy products, colorants and grasses
• Hayfever
• Seasonal Allergies
• Skin Allergies
• Sinus Allergies
• Fungal Allergies
• Headaches and pain caused by allergies
• Snoring
• A runny nose
• Congested sinuses

 

When to contact a Doctor

An individual must contact his/her health care provider if sneezing is affecting his/her life and when home remedies do not work.

 

Websites
USA: http://www.sinuswars.com/index.asp
Canada: http://www.sinuswars.ca/
United Kingdom: http://www.sinuswars.co.uk/

Herb-Away your Nasal Polyp

Ever wondered if there are herbs you could be adding to your lunch of dinner that may just help in treating those persistent nasal polyps? Well wonder no more…

Nasal polyps are non-cancerous growths that can develop in the nasal linings of the sinus cavities and nasal passages and are often quite difficult to treat as sinus surgery is often only 50% successful.

Bayberry

Our first herb is Bayberry which is said to have not only astringent and antibacterial properties but also steroidal actions. Steroidal action is achieved when bayberry is used in a type of snuff.

Then there’s the infamous Goldenseal which is also purported to have astringent and antibacterial peripheries when used as a snuff. Goldenseal as a herb should however not be used whilst pregnant however Goldenseal in Homeopathic form is completely safe.

The analgesic actions of Siberian Cocklebur together with its antibacterial properties help in the reduction of nasal polyp size allowing the underlying connective tissue to reattach themselves.

These herbal items can be eaten in food (not too sure of their taste through) or taken in a herbal tablet form which for me sounds an awful lot simpler.

Other natural treatments include the Homeopathic Remedy SinusWars13; an all-natural treatment designed to help target the reason behind nasal polyps such as irritation and inflammation of the nasal linings. Once this is treated, the nasal polyp is allowed to decrease in size allowing for re-connection of connective tissue matrix; a decrease in swelling and inflammation and also clearer nasal passages as nasal mucus is allowed to drain freely.

http://www.sinuswars.com/
http://www.sinuswars.co.uk/
http://www.sinuswars.ca/

Why do people say “God bless U” when someone sneezes?

The expression of saying “God bless you” after sneezing may have originated from a superstition, and every culture has different superstitions…

In Europe around the  Middle Ages, it was believed that one’s life was tied to one’s breath, the word expire originally meaning “to exhale” and then later on gaining the additional meaning of “to come to an end” or “to die”.  Therefore when one sneezed, a significant amount of breath was expelled from the body which led people to believe that sneezing could easily be fatal.

In certain parts of Eastern Asia a sneeze without an obvious cause was perceived as a sign that someone was talking about the sneezer at that very moment (ohhh… scary!).

Polish Culture believed that sneezes may be an ill-fated sign that one’s mother-in-law is speaking ill of their son-in-law at that moment. The same phenomenon is thought to correspond to a daughter-in-law and their respective mother-in-law.

In other parts of the world it was believed that a human’s soul is centrally located in the head, in the form of air. They believed that the soul may be expelled through sneezing, so they needed God’s blessing to prevent this form from happening.

Some ancient cultures believed that sneezing forced evil spirits out of the body and as such could endanger other people nearby. A blessing was believed to protect the person sneezing as well as the people around him/her.

Interesting facts about sneezing include

• A sneeze can travel at the speed of 100 mph;
• People do not sneeze when they are sleeping since the nerves are also resting;
• 18% and 35% of the population sneeze when they are exposed to bright light;
• People may sneeze due to plucking of eyebrows, since the nerve endings in the face are irritated and then fire a certain impulse that reaches the nasal nerve.