Sinus infections can pose a serious problem for immune compromised patients.  This page is here to give you tools to help prevent this common problem.

Kayla was in the hospital in March of 2009 for a fever that was recurring and high.  All tests came back negative and although she was on antibiotics the fevers would not break.  Finally a sinus infection was found and our oncologist told us that these infections are very difficult to treat, especially if the infection is deep inside the sinus cavity.  I had no prior knowledge that a sinus infection could be the cause of prolonged fevers.

When I asked for options he said that they could do surgery where a suction device is placed inside the sinus cavity and sucks out the mucous that is breeding bacteria.  This did not sound bad at all.

I went and started asking other patients/care givers for their experiences with this.  One parent told me that her daughter had five of these surgeries and they are horrible.  Her daughter’s eyes were so swollen after this procedure that she could barely open them.  The bruising looked like two black eyes.  I thought that one surgery would handle the problem but this patient had five of these procedures.  This was stunning information and I resolved to figure this out as soon as possible.

Mucous

Mucous is the enemy when it comes to the sinuses.  Therefore anything that causes the body to produce mucous should be removed from the diet.  Several patients reduced their dairy intake to one dairy item per day and this corrected their sinus problems.

We decided to take Kayla completely off of all DAIRY products because she ate very little dairy and still got sinus infections.  This is up to you, but the book, The China Study recommends no dairy consumption at all.  The author states that he could turn cancer on and off through diet alone.  Apparently dairy has a protein called casiene, which he found to have a direct link to cancer.  Based on all of this information we do not have any dairy products in our home anymore.

Being Pro Active

There is a product called a Neti Pot that the doctors recommended we use.  We were told that if every person, cleaned their sinuses, every day, this would put the EMT’s (emergency medical technicians) out of business.  That’s a pretty bold statement!  Here is a picture of the Neti Pot sold through WalGreens drug stores.  The cost is $11.99

I try to have Kayla use this product every day.  It took a couple of weeks of regular use to totally clean out her sinuses.

Sinus Tips

Water is essential to drink on a daily basis.  Juices, coffee, teas, soda and milk, do not hydrate the cells.  All of your cells float in water.  Your sinuses need to remain moist and their function is to moisten the air before it enters your body.  Think water, water, water, because this is what your sinuses need to function properly.

Avoid contact with people who have a cold.  Their sneezes will spread the bacteria in the sinuses to you.

Wash your hands frequently with water and soap.  We keep nail -brushes by every sink in our house so that the nails can be scrubbed as well.

Place a couple of cups of water in a small pot.  Add some salt and bring to a boil.  Breath in the steam and this may help to trigger sneezing, which helps to drain the sinuses.

There are also personal steam inhalers sold at your local drug store.

We have hand massagers that are excellent for draining sinuses.

You put the massager on the lowest setting and massage around your nose.  When you find a tickle spot, stay there and keep the pressure on.  This should cause sneezing to start.  We  have used this method successfully for years.  Your head can also get sore spots and headaches from sinus pressure and the hand massager can be used to work these out.

Garlic supplements.  Kayla takes a garlic supplement found at CVS and it is 2milligrams per capsule.  This cost about $4.00 for 60 tabs. Check with your doctor to ensure that there are no contra indications to the medications that you are on.

Allicin is an organic compound obtained from garlic. It is also obtainable from onions, and other species in the family Alliaceae.[1] This colourless liquid has a distinctively pungent smell. This compound exhibits antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.[2] Allicin is garlic’s defense mechanism against attacks by pests. [3]

The antibacterial activity of allicin was reviewed by Ankri and Mirelman in 1999.[4] Due to the increasing prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospitals and the community, there has been an urgent need for new agents that could be used to deal with these bacteria. In this connection, in 2004, Cutler and Wilson have studied the effect of allicin on these bacteria.[5] They used a new stable, aqueous extract of allicin, and have achieved very promising results.

Cutler and Wilson note that the use of a water-based extract of allicin stabilizes the allicin molecule.[6] They note further that this may be due to the hydrogen bonding of water to the reactive oxygen atom in allicin; also, there may be water-soluble components in crushed garlic that de-stabilize the molecule.[7] (Presumably, the dilution of these components in water helps to preserve the allicin molecule.)

The best way to ingest garlic is crushed or broken as this releases the allicin.  We use a lot of fresh garlic in our meals, as both my husband and I love the taste of garlic.  As stated earlier Kayla takes one garlic tablet a day and so far she has not had a recurrence with her sinuses.

Dust Mite Allergy

Dust mites are the most common cause of allergy from house dust. They belong to the family of eight-legged creatures called arachnids that also includes spiders, chiggers and ticks. Dust mites are hardy creatures that live and multiply easily in warm, humid places. They prefer temperatures at or above 70 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 75 percent to 80 percent. They die when the humidity falls below 40 percent to 50 percent. They are not usually found in dry climates.

High levels of exposure to dust mite are an important factor in the development of asthma in children. People who are allergic to dust mites react to proteins within the bodies and feces of the mites. These particles are found mostly in pillows, mattresses, carpeting and upholstered furniture. They float into the air when anyone vacuums, walks on a carpet or disturbs bedding, but settle out of the air soon after the disturbance is over.

Dust mite-allergic people who inhale these particles frequently experience allergy symptoms. There may be many as 19,000 dust mites in one gram of dust, but usually between 100 to 500 mites live in each gram. (A gram is about the weight of a paper clip.) Each mite produces about 10 to 20 waste particles per day and lives for 30 days. Egg-laying females can add 25 to 30 new mites to the population during their lifetime.

Mites eat particles of skin and dander, so they thrive in places where there are people and animals. Dust mites don’t bite, cannot spread diseases and usually do not live on people. They are harmful only to people who become allergic to them. While usual household insecticides have no effect on dust mites, there are ways to reduce exposure to dust mites in the home. [8]

Cockroach Allergy

Many houses have dust that contains parts of cockroaches. This is most common in older, multifamily housing and in the southern United States where complete extermination of cockroaches is very difficult. Individuals allergic to cockroach protein, particularly those with asthma, tend to have increased symptoms if they live in such houses. [8]

You do not have to actually see cockroaches to have a problem. The allergen is derived from saliva, fecal material, secretions, skin casts, and body parts. It is usually at the highest levels in kitchens, but may be found throughout the home, including the bedroom and bed. The levels in bedrooms may be most associated with allergic disease. They are often found in schools and commercial buildings. Cockroaches require food and moisture to survive, so eliminating sources of each can help reduce exposure. [8]

Animal Allergies

Cats and dogs are the most common cause of animal allergy, but any warm-blooded animals (guinea pigs, hamsters, etc) can trigger an allergy symptom. It’s not just the hair or skin particles that contain the allergens, but also the urine and saliva. Mice can trigger allergies if present in sufficient numbers. Allergens from domestic animals, especially cats, may be carried on the clothing of pet owners outside the home into the work place and schools. In fact, cat allergen, is one of the most common allergens found in the dust in schools.

There are no “non-allergenic” cats or dogs. [8]

Nipping Allergies Before They Start

Remove wall-to-wall carpets from the bedroom if possible. Use a central vacuum or a vacuum with a HEPA filter regularly. If you are allergic, wear a N95 filter mask while dusting, sweeping or vacuuming. Remember, it takes over two hours for the dust to settle back down, so if possible clean when the allergic patient is away and don’t clean the bedroom at night. (Dust mite, animal and mold allergy.)

Keep pets out of the bedroom at ALL times. Consider using a HEPA Air Cleaner in the bedroom. It is best to remove the animal from the home. (Animal allergy.)

Encase mattresses and pillows with “mite-proof” covers. Wash all bed linens regularly using hot water. (Dust mite allergy.)

Do not leave out uncovered food at night. Dispose of food wastes (including fast food wraps) in a tightly sealed garbage can. Use roach traps. Schedule regular professional pest control utilizing integrated pest management (IPM) methods. (Cockroach, mouse and mold allergy.)

Install a high efficiency media filter with a MERV rating of 11 or 12 in the furnace and air-conditioning unit. Leave the fan on to create a “whole house” air filter that removes particulates. Change the filter at least every three months (with the change of the seasons) to keep the air cleaner year round. Have your heating and air-conditioning units inspected and serviced every six months.  (Animal, mold and dust mite allergy.) [8]

In an older home or apartment caulk all cracks to your dwelling.  This keeps the bugs from coming in.

Around the outside of your home, place table salt, on the ground next to your outer walls, where the dirt brushes up against your house. A row of salt creates a barrier that the bugs do not like.  This tip is from Mother Earth News and I found it to help at my house.

Wash heavy curtains regularly or replace with sheers.  Curtains attract and hold dust.

Wash stuffed animal’s as they are also dust magnets.

The Holmes Harmony Air Purifier Tower is a product that we purchased through Sears.  The price was reasonable and it does a good job. Here is a review done by About.com on this product. http://housewares.about.com/od/aircleanerspurifiers/gr/hharmHAP422.htm

After Kayla was sick for three months in a row, each time requiring a hospital stay of at least two weeks.  We implemented many of the suggestions on this page and since these implementations, Kayla has not had any illness at all.

Please note that I am not a medical doctor nor medically trained in any way.  The information on this page is not to be used in place of a doctor but rather in conjunction with your doctor.  Print off this page and have a consultation with your health care professional. Do not take ANY supplements with out the approval of your doctor.

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References

1. Eric Block (1985). “The chemistry of garlic and onions”. Scientific American 252 (March): 114–119.
2. Chester J. Cavallito, John Hays Bailey “Allicin, the Antibacterial Principle of Allium sativum. I. Isolation, Physical Properties and Antibacterial Action” Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1944, volume 66, pp 1950 – 1951. doi:10.1021/ja01239a048
3. http://www.phytochemicals.info/phytochemicals/allicin.php
4. Ankri, S; Mirelman D (1999). “Antimicrobial properties of allicin from garlic”. Microbes Infect 2: 125–9.
5. Cutler, RR; P Wilson (2004). “Antibacterial activity of a new, stable, aqueous extract of allicin against methicillan-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (PDF file)“. British Journal of Biomedical Science 61 (2): 71-4. Retrieved on 20 Feb 2009.
6. Cutler, RR; P Wilson (2004). “Antibacterial activity of a new, stable, aqueous extract of allicin against methicillan-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (PDF file)“. British Journal of Biomedical Science 61 (2): 71-4. Retrieved on 20 Feb 2009.
7. Lawson, LD; Koch HP, Lawson LD, eds. (1996). The composition and chemistry of garlic cloves and processed garlic; in Garlic: the science and therapeutic application of Allium sativum L and related species (2nd edn). Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins. pp. 37–107.
8. http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/dust.htm American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.  Public Education Titled HOUSE DUST ALLERGY

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