Allergy and Sinus Infection

Allergy and Sinus Infections Relationship

When you have an allergy, sinus infections are common. It all starts with an allergy to molds, dust, pollen or other substance. This triggers antibodies that lead to nasal congestion and sinus congestion. At first the sinus drainage is clear and stringy. It is the body's natural response to a respiratory allergen. The body is attempting to clear the pollen or other allergen out of the body. You blow your nose and the allergen is flushed out.

Treatment of Simple Sinus Congestion Resulting from an Allergy

The treatment of simple sinus congestion due to an allergy involves the use of antihistamines. These are medications that block the histamine receptors in the respiratory tract and turn off the mucus production. Benadryl is a common antihistamine that is available over the counter. It can make you very tired however.

So can chlorpheniramine, another antihistamine that is commonly used in allergy preparations. Fortunately, there are several other antihistamines out there that do not make you tired. These include the use of sinus medications Zyrtec and Claritin, both available over the counter. These are non-sedating antihistamines that also block the histamine 1 receptors of the nasal passages. Taking antihistamines can prevent sinusitis.

When an Allergy turns into a Sinus Infection

If sinus congestion due to an allergy is not treated properly, there is a chance of a sinusitis. Bacteria normally live in the nasal passages and these can feed off the mucus made in the nasal passages and sinus cavities. The bacteria can get into the maxillary sinuses or in the ethmoid sinuses, located in the forehead between the eyes. The bacteria quickly multiply and feed off the mucus. The bacteria also turn the nasal mucus yellow or green and the mucus becomes thicker. This makes it difficult to drain the sinuses and there is increased pain from the buildup of thick nasal and sinus mucus.

The most common bacteria that cause a sinus infection from allergy include Streptococcus species and Staphylococcus species. These can get better using the following antibiotics: Bactrim, erythromycin based medications, cephalosporins, quinolone antibiotics like Cipro and penicillin based antibiotics. Due to the high incidence of resistances among the common bacteria found in the nasal passages, two or more antibiotics may need to be attempted or a culture of the nose might need to be cultured in order to find out what's growing and what it is sensitive to.

Who gets Sinus Infections from an Allergy?

Sinusitis resulting from allergy can occur at any age. Even newborn babies are born with sinuses so that if they get an allergy to something, it can go on to cause a sinus infection. Allergies, however, are rare to occur for the first time in the elderly so it is less likely to be this kind of infection if they get a sinus problem. Most simple allergies occur in the youth and in young adults. Determining the cause of the allergy can help you and the doctor by avoiding the allergen altogether or taking antihistamines when exposed to the specific allergen.

Allergy Testing

You can test for allergies by doing skin testing. Skin testing puts a small amount of an allergen under the skin using a thin needle. After twenty-four hours or more, the doctor checks to see if there is an allergic response to the allergen in the place where the needle was inserted. If there is redness or induration in the area of the needle puncture, there is an assumed allergy to the allergen. These are the things you need to avoid in order to stay away.

Is an Allergic Sinus Infection Dangerous?

In general, it is not dangerous to get a sinus infection due to allergy. It can be painful, with pain on touching the skin overlying the sinuses and generalized facial pain and there can be a lot of blowing one's nose and taking Tylenol, Aleve, or ibuprofen. On the other hand, this type of infection can spread to the eyes, up through the nasolacrimal duct, or can spread to the brain, leading to meningitis or encephalitis. These are serious complications of allergy sinus infections that can result in loss of consciousness, seizures and death. Antibiotics can help these complications, especially if they are treated early enough.

Preventing a Sinusitis

The best way to stop a sinusitis arising out of an allergy is to treat the allergy aggressively. This means using antihistamines and blowing your nose frequently to clear the sinus passages. If you think you have an allergy sinus infection, see your doctor about getting an antibiotic.