Viral infection or sinus infection ? Posted: 02-04-08 04:44am
About 10 weeks ago I suffered fever and
flu-like symptoms, headaches which
subsided but were followed by recurrent
pressure headaches, aching in my sinus
area, aching behind my right eye and
generela malaise. After the symptoms
failed to clear after a over a month I
went to the doctor and was given a week's
antibiotics for probable sinus infection.
He also did a blood test. The antibiotics
have little effect and I later find the
blood test shows I had glandular fever.
Doctor says do nothing and it will go
away. Whilst I cannot dispute the blood
test, the problems I am now suffering from
seem to me more symptomatic of a chronic
sinus infection or something else not GF.
My question is can a virus trigger sinus
problems or is it possible I had/have two
different problems at the same time.
Doctor wasn't convinced that my headaches
and aching in sinus area were a separate
problem and so now recommends waiting at
least 6 weeks to see if symptoms persist
before going back. Help?
|
DoctorAnswer
Doctor Answer
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Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Answer A3607 Posted: 02-07-08 09:05am
It is possible that 2 different infections
are present in the body at the same time.
This is especially likely in cases when a
viral infection (glandular fever in your
case) decreases immunity and makes the
body susceptible to develop other, usually
bacterial infections. For example, people
diagnosed with glandular fever are
susceptible to developing bacterial throat
infections.
Glandular fever can be identified using a
specific blood test (which was positive in
your case). A sinus infection (sinusitis)
can be confirmed or excluded via nasal
examination (rhinoscopy) by an
ENT-specialist. You may also request an
X-ray image and microbiological
examination of the sinuses for further
diagnostic information. In your case, none
of these examinations have been performed
and you're assuming that a headache in the
sinus area indicates sinusitis. Headaches,
however, are very non-specific symptoms
because a headache can be present during
many diseases and conditions.
For a precise medical and scientific
diagnosis, you can consult an
ENT-specialist about these symptoms.
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