Idiosyncratic Reactions to Flu Shots
Question:
>I have always wondered if my taking the flu shot was a coincidence. >That very day was the exact day that I developed chronic sinusitis for >the first time, and I’ve had it ever since.
A few weeks after my first and only shot around 1993 or 94, I had severe vertigo with 102 fever. I’ve never been the same since. I had sinus problems before then but it turned acute and uncontrollable after that also. I think vaccines are dangerous for adults because we have built up sensitivities to many things and antibiodies can cross react. For instance, why would someone with latex sensitivity also have reactions to bananas and melons? Science has no explaination, other than the antigens are similiar somehow, yet not everyone will react the same way. I personally am frightened by the possibility of needing to be re-vaccinated for small pox if it becomes manditory. Nadine
Response:
Hello…. My sinuses took a nose dive immediately after a flu shot about 3 years ago. I had taken the flu shot a few years in a row prior to this time, and normally acquired minor flu-like symptoms a few days later; however, this particular one was definitely the guy that brought matters to a head. ….I haven’t had a flu shot since. …Jon
Response:
"Larry Preuss" <LPre…@NocomNocast.net> wrote in message
news:B92B6F98.F53%LPreuss@NocomNocast.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> in article B92B6569.F4F%LPre…@NocomNocast.net, Larry Preuss at > LPre…@NocomNocast.net wrote on 6/11/02 8:29 AM: > > in article ae4puu$32…@knossos.btinternet.com, Duncan Robertson at > > Duncan.Roberts…@btinternet.com wrote on 6/11/02 8:20 AM: > >> from the cold and your mucosa was compromised Larry wrote > >> that ‘flu shot does nothing to the general virus population of > >> your > >> nose.’ Might there not be, in some rare cases, an exception to > >> this rule? > > No. > > Larry > Let me extend this thought a bit further. Duncan, you have just asked if > there might not be "in some rare cases, an exception to this rule?" You are > obviously looking for that one in a xxxxx circumstance that will justify > your original statement.
My original statement that the microflora of the sinus (or for that matter any other mucosal cavity of the body where microorganisms can flourish) is a balanced ‘ecosystem’ might have been better put. The word ‘ecosystem’ is inapropriate. ’Biocolony’ might be better. That statement, however, was "The inside of your > nose is an ecosystem with a mixed population of bacteria, viruses and > molds. If you take a ‘flu shot, the viral population is depleted and the > bacteria and molds take adantage of this to increase." This is clearly > incorrect.
Admittedly You would be on much former ground if you would confine yourself > to your personal experiences, the relation of which would be > incontrovertible. When you try to instruct in physiology, having no basic > background from which to work
I achieved an 80% pass in my honours degree physiology and biochemistry , you sometimes fail. If you were to ask > questions, propose thoughts, wonder about possibilities, your contributions > could be unlimited. When you speak *authoritatively* without a solid basis > of information, you sometimes mislead.
Very well then. Fewer postings; more reading!
Response:
in article ae4puu$32…@knossos.btinternet.com, Duncan Robertson at Duncan.Roberts…@btinternet.com wrote on 6/11/02 8:20 AM: > from the cold and your mucosa was compromised Larry wrote > that ‘flu shot does nothing to the general virus population of > your > nose.’ Might there not be, in some rare cases, an exception to > this rule?
No. Larry
Response:
in article B92B6569.F4F%LPre…@NocomNocast.net, Larry Preuss at LPre…@NocomNocast.net wrote on 6/11/02 8:29 AM: > in article ae4puu$32…@knossos.btinternet.com, Duncan Robertson at > Duncan.Roberts…@btinternet.com wrote on 6/11/02 8:20 AM: >> from the cold and your mucosa was compromised Larry wrote >> that ‘flu shot does nothing to the general virus population of >> your >> nose.’ Might there not be, in some rare cases, an exception to >> this rule? > No. > Larry
Let me extend this thought a bit further. Duncan, you have just asked if there might not be "in some rare cases, an exception to this rule?" You are obviously looking for that one in a xxxxx circumstance that will justify your original statement. That statement, however, was "The inside of your nose is an ecosystem with a mixed population of bacteria, viruses and molds. If you take a ‘flu shot, the viral population is depleted and the bacteria and molds take adantage of this to increase." This is clearly incorrect. You would be on much former ground if you would confine yourself to your personal experiences, the relation of which would be incontrovertible. When you try to instruct in physiology, having no basic background from which to work, you sometimes fail. If you were to ask questions, propose thoughts, wonder about possibilities, your contributions could be unlimited. When you speak *authoritatively* without a solid basis of information, you sometimes mislead. Larry
Response:
"Larry Preuss" <LPre…@NocomNocast.net> wrote in message
news:B929FF4A.CC5%LPreuss@NocomNocast.net… > I don’t think you are going to be able to sell that "basically dirt" idea. > May I ask for a shred of evidence/
There’s tons of it.
Response:
"Duncan Robertson" <Duncan.Roberts…@btinternet.com> wrote in message > Do you mean that an adjuvant is normally included to augment the > immune reaction, besides the actual vaccine?
Yes. > What is the nature of the adjuvant, if this is so?
I’m not too sure. My understanding is that it is just molecular debris – not ‘dirt’ in the literal sense, but it’s non-specific stuff.
Response:
in article ae29rq$2lu…@otis.netspace.net.au, Richard Cavell at richardcav…@mail.com wrote on 6/10/02 9:34 AM: > "Larry Preuss" <LPre…@NocomNocast.net> wrote in message > news:B929FF4A.CC5%LPreuss@NocomNocast.net… >> I don’t think you are going to be able to sell that "basically dirt" idea. >> May I ask for a shred of evidence/ > There’s tons of it.
Well said. Spill some of it here. Lp
Response:
in article ae29ti$2lu…@otis.netspace.net.au, Richard Cavell at richardcav…@mail.com wrote on 6/10/02 9:35 AM: > "Duncan Robertson" <Duncan.Roberts…@btinternet.com> wrote in message >> Do you mean that an adjuvant is normally included to augment the >> immune reaction, besides the actual vaccine? > Yes. >> What is the nature of the adjuvant, if this is so? > I’m not too sure. My understanding is that it is just molecular debris – > not ‘dirt’ in the literal sense, but it’s non-specific stuff.
Is it specific enough that you can document for us that it exists? Lp
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Duncan Robertson" <Duncan.Roberts…@btinternet.com> wrote in message <news:ae2096$h7u$1@paris.btinternet.com>… > "Steven Litvintchouk" <sdlit…@earthlink.net> wrote in message > news:3D0423D5.FE94AD69@earthlink.net… > > Has anyone ever heard of a rare reaction to a flu shot that is anything > > like my experience: > > While I had suffered a few sinus infections in the early 1990’s, they > > had been treated successfully by oral antibiotics. > > In late September 1993, I had gotten over a mild cold a week earlier, > > and so I decided to take a flu shot that my employer was giving out. > > I took the flu shot and went home. > > That evening, around 8 PM, I suddenly developed a torrent of thick > > yellow/green crap pouring out of my sinuses and down the back of my > > throat, making me gag and choke. I had never experienced anything like > > it in my life before.
The reaction happend hours after the flu shot. Please keep this in mind, Duncan. > Hi Sreven! > The inside of your nose is an ecosystem with a mixed population of > bacteria, viruses and molds.
Not exactly – but certainly there is "stuff" in the nasal passages – but are they really infesting your sinuses? When you culture it, you don’t really find that is the case. >If you take a ‘flu shot, the viral > population > is depleted
Now that would be the first mistake, but not the last. >and the bacteria and molds take adantage of this to increase
Not exactly – your nose is not the wilds of Africa where there’s competition for water and food. Please note – your NOSE is not…OK! > If you take an antibiotic, the molds and yeasts move in to take the space > freed of bacteria. We can take probiotics (Shudder!! Alternative > medicine!!)
and that explains the lack of science – but thanks for playing. amp
Response:
"amp_spamfree" <amp_spamf…@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192abe3.0206100631.47a5d4f8@posting.google.com… > "Duncan Robertson" <Duncan.Roberts…@btinternet.com> wrote in message
<news:ae2096$h7u$1@paris.btinternet.com>… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > "Steven Litvintchouk" <sdlit…@earthlink.net> wrote in message > > news:3D0423D5.FE94AD69@earthlink.net… > > > Has anyone ever heard of a rare reaction to a flu shot that is anything > > > like my experience: > > > While I had suffered a few sinus infections in the early 1990’s, they > > > had been treated successfully by oral antibiotics. > > > In late September 1993, I had gotten over a mild cold a week earlier, > > > and so I decided to take a flu shot that my employer was giving out. > > > I took the flu shot and went home. > > > That evening, around 8 PM, I suddenly developed a torrent of thick > > > yellow/green crap pouring out of my sinuses and down the back of my > > > throat, making me gag and choke. I had never experienced anything like > > > it in my life before. > The reaction happend hours after the flu shot. Please keep this in > mind, Duncan. > > Hi Sreven! > > The inside of your nose is an ecosystem with a mixed population of > > bacteria, viruses and molds. > Not exactly – but certainly there is "stuff" in the nasal passages – > but are they really infesting your sinuses? When you culture it, you > don’t really find that is the case.
This is a repeat post: Refer to this article: http://www.ent-consult.com/fungalsinusitis.html Breakthrough Discovery: Fungi are the Dominant Cause of Chronic Sinusitis ————————————————————————— – —- ROCHESTER (Sept. 9. 1999) – Mayo Clinic Researchers announced that they have made a breakthrough in understanding chronic sinusitis, that it is caused not by a bacteriological infection, but most likely by the effects of fungi in the mucous of patients. "We can finally begin to treat the disease, not the symptoms", said Kern of the discovery team of Drs. David Sherris, Eugene Kern and Jens Ponikau. The Mayo team studied 210 patients and found fungi in 96% of the patient’s mucus. While allergic response to fungi was suspected in about 10% of cases, the evidence points to fungi as the cause of the problem in the vast majority of cases. The research shows that an immune system response, not an allergy to fungi was the cause of the chronic sinusitis. Many types of fungi were identified in the patients’ mucous. Chronic sinusitis – identified as sinusitis lasting more than 30 days – is typically identified by symptoms of a "drippy" nose, congestion, headaches, and reduced sense of smell. Frequently the chronic inflammation leads to polyps, small growths in the nasal passages which obstruct breathing, sinus drainage, and block passage to the smell organ. Doctors are aware of sinusitis of fungal origin. Mucus inside the sinus will be high in eosinophiles (the white cells common in allergy). The most important application of the study is in the treatment of this disease. Over-the-counter decongestants and antibiotics are frequently used, but are ineffective. While the over-the-counter remedies may provide some relief, they are not effective against the inflammation. Antibiotics are effective only against bacteriological infections, and therefore do nothing for this chronic condition, and contribute to producing antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. The patient is in fact set up for trouble treating unrelated infections in later life, and adds to the overall problem our society is just now beginning to face. The new research holds hope for improved treatment with drugs targeted directly at the fungi. The discovery was originally reported in the September 1999 issue of the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings. ————————————————————————— – —- Drs. Sherris, Kern and Ponikau are to be congratulated for their excellent research pinpointing fungi as the cause of chronic sinusitis. Unlike ineffectual treatment with decongestants and antibiotics, pulsatile saline irrigation effectively removes the mucous harboring the fungi, is medically proven to increase the body’s natural mechanism to remove foreign materials, and has been used as an effective delivery vehicle for anti-fungal medications. For more information on the use of anti-fungal medications, contact your physician.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Craig Health" <CR…@noscape.net> wrote in message <news:9xaN8.13266$n42.560765998@newssvr16.news.prodigy.com>… > "amp_spamfree" <amp_spamf…@yahoo.com> wrote in message > news:1192abe3.0206100631.47a5d4f8@posting.google.com… > > "Duncan Robertson" <Duncan.Roberts…@btinternet.com> wrote in message > <news:ae2096$h7u$1@paris.btinternet.com>… > > > "Steven Litvintchouk" <sdlit…@earthlink.net> wrote in message > > > news:3D0423D5.FE94AD69@earthlink.net… > > > > Has anyone ever heard of a rare reaction to a flu shot that is > anything > > > > like my experience: > > > > While I had suffered a few sinus infections in the early 1990’s, they > > > > had been treated successfully by oral antibiotics. > > > > In late September 1993, I had gotten over a mild cold a week earlier, > > > > and so I decided to take a flu shot that my employer was giving out. > > > > I took the flu shot and went home. > > > > That evening, around 8 PM, I suddenly developed a torrent of thick > > > > yellow/green crap pouring out of my sinuses and down the back of my > > > > throat, making me gag and choke. I had never experienced anything > like > > > > it in my life before. > > The reaction happend hours after the flu shot. Please keep this in > > mind, Duncan. > > > Hi Sreven! > > > The inside of your nose is an ecosystem with a mixed population of > > > bacteria, viruses and molds. > > Not exactly – but certainly there is "stuff" in the nasal passages – > > but are they really infesting your sinuses? When you culture it, you > > don’t really find that is the case. > This is a repeat post: > Refer to this article: > http://www.ent-consult.com/fungalsinusitis.html > Breakthrough Discovery: Fungi are the Dominant Cause of Chronic Sinusitis > ————————————————————————— – > —- > ROCHESTER (Sept. 9. 1999) – Mayo Clinic Researchers announced that they have > made a breakthrough in understanding chronic sinusitis,
Let me make this VERY clear – when I culture normal flora from the nasal passages, I can grow all sorts of stuff and the patient is NOT symtomatic. When I culture the sinuses of the same patient, I can’t grow squat. When I culture a sinusitis patient, all bets are off. I can grow all sorts of crap. Thanks for playing. amp
Response:
"amp_spamfree" <amp_spamf…@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192abe3.0206100631.47a5d4f8@posting.google.com… > "Duncan Robertson" <Duncan.Roberts…@btinternet.com> wrote in message
<news:ae2096$h7u$1@paris.btinternet.com>… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > "Steven Litvintchouk" <sdlit…@earthlink.net> wrote in message > > news:3D0423D5.FE94AD69@earthlink.net… > > > Has anyone ever heard of a rare reaction to a flu shot that is anything > > > like my experience: > > > While I had suffered a few sinus infections in the early 1990’s, they > > > had been treated successfully by oral antibiotics. > > > In late September 1993, I had gotten over a mild cold a week earlier, > > > and so I decided to take a flu shot that my employer was giving out. > > > I took the flu shot and went home. > > > That evening, around 8 PM, I suddenly developed a torrent of thick > > > yellow/green crap pouring out of my sinuses and down the back of my > > > throat, making me gag and choke. I had never experienced anything like > > > it in my life before. > The reaction happend hours after the flu shot. Please keep this in > mind, Duncan.
Hi Steven. There’s a new technique for delivering the ‘flu vaccine via the nose. You didn’t have it this way, I’m sure. There are some egg-derived proteins with the vaccine. In this respect Richard is right, but they weren’t added deliberately. The vaccines used in any particular year are grown on the chorioallantoic membranes of developing chicks. It’s unavoidable that there should be some extra antigens in the vaccine derived from the method of preparation. There’s also some thiomersal in the vaccine to help preserve it. You wrote that you had a ‘mild cold’ shortly before you had ‘flu vaccine. Viral rhinitis is another name for the ‘common cold.’ Viruses are more effective in invading mucosa than bacteria since they are more soluble in the mucous blanket. They bring about an exfoliation of the mucosa which can last for weeks. Bacterial superinfection is often the consequence of a common cold, since the mucocilliary mechanism is damaged. Possibly, the ‘flu shot triggered off a heavy bacterial infection just as you were recovering from the cold and your mucosa was compromised Larry wrote that ‘flu shot does nothing to the general virus population of your nose.’ Might there not be, in some rare cases, an exception to this rule? I realise that systemic antibodies to the flu vaccine would penetrate very slowly, if at all, into the paranasal sinuses It’s possible, also, that the’flu shot didn’t really start off your serious bacterial sinusitis – the initial cause of all your trouble – butr that you’d have had the sinus flare-up even if you hadn’t had the ‘flu vaccine. It’s serious, since many sinus sufferers get ‘flu shots but I.ve never heard of anyone getting the kind of flare-up which you described. I think that the earlier weakening of your nasal mucosa by a rhinovisus(es) led to an opportunistic heavy bacterial infection.
Response:
in article ae1t29$2jt…@otis.netspace.net.au, Richard Cavell at richardcav…@mail.com wrote on 6/10/02 5:55 AM: > "Larry Preuss" <LPre…@NocomNocast.net> wrote in message > news:B929E9E4.CB8%LPreuss@NocomNocast.net… >> C’mon. "Dirty little secret"? Of course they put stuff in to make you >> generate an immune response; that’s what a vaccine, any vaccine, does. > What I’m saying is that they incorporate all kinds of other molecules – > basically ‘dirt’ – that have nothing to do with the actual antigen. So you > will get an immunological response to the dirt, which potentiates the cells > that are participating in the response to the antigen.
I don’t think you are going to be able to sell that "basically dirt" idea. May I ask for a shred of evidence/ Larry
Response:
"Richard Cavell" <richardcav…@mail.com> wrote in message
news:ae1t29$2jt2$1@otis.netspace.net.au… > "Larry Preuss" <LPre…@NocomNocast.net> wrote in message > news:B929E9E4.CB8%LPreuss@NocomNocast.net… > > C’mon. "Dirty little secret"? Of course they put stuff in to make you > > generate an immune response; that’s what a vaccine, any vaccine, does. > What I’m saying is that they incorporate all kinds of other molecules – > basically ‘dirt’ – that have nothing to do with the actual antigen. So you > will get an immunological response to the dirt, which potentiates the cells > that are participating in the response to the antigen.
Do you mean that an adjuvant is normally included to augment the immune reaction, besides the actual vaccine? What is the nature of the adjuvant, if this is so? Experimenta using purified antigens in vivo, sometimes utilise heat-killed tubercule bacteria to boost the often weakly antigenic substance under test. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –
Response:
in article ae2096$h7…@paris.btinternet.com, Duncan Robertson at Duncan.Roberts…@btinternet.com wrote on 6/10/02 6:50 AM: > Hi Sreven! > The inside of your nose is an ecosystem with a mixed population of > bacteria, viruses and molds. If you take a ‘flu shot, the viral > population > is depleted and the bacteria and molds take adantage of this to increase > If you take an antibiotic, the molds and yeasts move in to take the space > freed of bacteria.
This is incorrect. A flu shot does nothing to the general viral population of your nose. It is specific for the viruses of influenza, which are never normal inhabitants. Even then, it does nothing to the nasal viral population, but "neutralizes" the virus when it attains systemic distribution. Larry
Response:
"Larry Preuss" <LPre…@NocomNocast.net> wrote in message
news:B929E9E4.CB8%LPreuss@NocomNocast.net… > C’mon. "Dirty little secret"? Of course they put stuff in to make you > generate an immune response; that’s what a vaccine, any vaccine, does.
What I’m saying is that they incorporate all kinds of other molecules – basically ‘dirt’ – that have nothing to do with the actual antigen. So you will get an immunological response to the dirt, which potentiates the cells that are participating in the response to the antigen.
Response:
"Steven Litvintchouk" <sdlit…@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:3D0423D5.FE94AD69@earthlink.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Has anyone ever heard of a rare reaction to a flu shot that is anything > like my experience: > While I had suffered a few sinus infections in the early 1990’s, they > had been treated successfully by oral antibiotics. > In late September 1993, I had gotten over a mild cold a week earlier, > and so I decided to take a flu shot that my employer was giving out. > I took the flu shot and went home. > That evening, around 8 PM, I suddenly developed a torrent of thick > yellow/green crap pouring out of my sinuses and down the back of my > throat, making me gag and choke. I had never experienced anything like > it in my life before. > My physician diagnosed acute sinusitis one more time, and again put me > on antibiotics. > But this time, no antibiotic he prescribed worked. I ended up with > chronic sinusitis from this, and eventually had to go for sinus surgery > (which has been only partially successful anyway). > I have always wondered if my taking the flu shot was a coincidence. > That very day was the exact day that I developed chronic sinusitis for > the first time, and I’ve had it ever since.
Hi Sreven! The inside of your nose is an ecosystem with a mixed population of bacteria, viruses and molds. If you take a ‘flu shot, the viral population is depleted and the bacteria and molds take adantage of this to increase If you take an antibiotic, the molds and yeasts move in to take the space freed of bacteria. We can take probiotics (Shudder!! Alternative medicine!!) to restore the balance of non-invasive bacteria in the gut after antibiotics but we can’t do this for the nose. We need a culture of bacteria suitable for this purpose to be introduced in the form of a nasal spray but no such culture exists. Something to limit the spread of yeasts and molds in the nose after the use of antibiotics. All there is available > for fungae are Sporanox and Amphotericin B and suchlike – all poisons
for the liver. Is it possible to use a fungicids in the SinuNEB or would that be too risky? I wouldn’t like to be the first to try! There is Dr. Iveker’s antifungal diet which I have consumed, unaware of the antifungal properties, for many years. I think it is always a good principle to keep one’s physical health at the best level without too much physical exertion. With optimum health comes an optimally functioning immune system and one’s natural defences have a fighting chance of dealing with upsurges in the activity of invasive bacteria, visuses and molds. Clolostrum (Ugh!! more natural remedies!!) has been suggested to boost the immune system. It seems to be harmless, except to the contents of your wallet! It is also pointless to write that ‘Dr. Iveker’s approach has failed.’ The experiment to test Dr. Iveker’s ideas would last a lifetime. Your lifestyle itself would be under test. Duncan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –
Response:
"Steven Litvintchouk" <sdlit…@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:3D0423D5.FE94AD69@earthlink.net… > Has anyone ever heard of a rare reaction to a flu shot that is anything > like my experience:
Having a flu vaccine can cause flu-like symptoms. The reason is immunology’s ‘dirty little secret’ – they put crap into the vaccine to generate an immune response, to make sure that you become immune. Chronic sinusitis is not related to the vaccine.
Response:
in article ae1cpb$2de…@otis.netspace.net.au, Richard Cavell at richardcav…@mail.com wrote on 6/10/02 1:17 AM: > "Steven Litvintchouk" <sdlit…@earthlink.net> wrote in message > news:3D0423D5.FE94AD69@earthlink.net… >> Has anyone ever heard of a rare reaction to a flu shot that is anything >> like my experience: > Having a flu vaccine can cause flu-like symptoms. The reason is > immunology’s ‘dirty little secret’ – they put crap into the vaccine to > generate an immune response, to make sure that you become immune.
C’mon. "Dirty little secret"? Of course they put stuff in to make you generate an immune response; that’s what a vaccine, any vaccine, does.
Response:
in article 3D0423D5.FE94A…@earthlink.net, Steven Litvintchouk at sdlit…@earthlink.net wrote on 6/9/02 11:58 PM: > Has anyone ever heard of a rare reaction to a flu shot that is anything > like my experience:
I have often wondered if it was because of the Swine Flu Shot I got circa 1976 caused me to have sinus problems. I never had them before I got that shot. I have heard that people have developed problems due to innoculations. That shot was a fiasco. Tom
Response:
"Steven Litvintchouk" <sdlit…@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:3D0423D5.FE94AD69@earthlink.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Has anyone ever heard of a rare reaction to a flu shot that is anything > like my experience: > While I had suffered a few sinus infections in the early 1990’s, they > had been treated successfully by oral antibiotics. > In late September 1993, I had gotten over a mild cold a week earlier, > and so I decided to take a flu shot that my employer was giving out. > I took the flu shot and went home. > That evening, around 8 PM, I suddenly developed a torrent of thick > yellow/green crap pouring out of my sinuses and down the back of my > throat, making me gag and choke. I had never experienced anything like > it in my life before. > My physician diagnosed acute sinusitis one more time, and again put me > on antibiotics. > But this time, no antibiotic he prescribed worked. I ended up with > chronic sinusitis from this, and eventually had to go for sinus surgery > (which has been only partially successful anyway).
Refer to this article: http://www.ent-consult.com/fungalsinusitis.html Breakthrough Discovery: Fungi are the Dominant Cause of Chronic Sinusitis ————————————————————————— – —- ROCHESTER (Sept. 9. 1999) – Mayo Clinic Researchers announced that they have made a breakthrough in understanding chronic sinusitis, that it is caused not by a bacteriological infection, but most likely by the effects of fungi in the mucous of patients. "We can finally begin to treat the disease, not the symptoms", said Kern of the discovery team of Drs. David Sherris, Eugene Kern and Jens Ponikau. The Mayo team studied 210 patients and found fungi in 96% of the patient’s mucus. While allergic response to fungi was suspected in about 10% of cases, the evidence points to fungi as the cause of the problem in the vast majority of cases. The research shows that an immune system response, not an allergy to fungi was the cause of the chronic sinusitis. Many types of fungi were identified in the patients’ mucous. Chronic sinusitis – identified as sinusitis lasting more than 30 days – is typically identified by symptoms of a "drippy" nose, congestion, headaches, and reduced sense of smell. Frequently the chronic inflammation leads to polyps, small growths in the nasal passages which obstruct breathing, sinus drainage, and block passage to the smell organ. Doctors are aware of sinusitis of fungal origin. Mucus inside the sinus will be high in eosinophiles (the white cells common in allergy). The most important application of the study is in the treatment of this disease. Over-the-counter decongestants and antibiotics are frequently used, but are ineffective. While the over-the-counter remedies may provide some relief, they are not effective against the inflammation. Antibiotics are effective only against bacteriological infections, and therefore do nothing for this chronic condition, and contribute to producing antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. The patient is in fact set up for trouble treating unrelated infections in later life, and adds to the overall problem our society is just now beginning to face. The new research holds hope for improved treatment with drugs targeted directly at the fungi. The discovery was originally reported in the September 1999 issue of the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings. ————————————————————————— – —- Drs. Sherris, Kern and Ponikau are to be congratulated for their excellent research pinpointing fungi as the cause of chronic sinusitis. Unlike ineffectual treatment with decongestants and antibiotics, pulsatile saline irrigation effectively removes the mucous harboring the fungi, is medically proven to increase the body’s natural mechanism to remove foreign materials, and has been used as an effective delivery vehicle for anti-fungal medications. For more information on the use of anti-fungal medications, contact your physician.
Response:
Has anyone ever heard of a rare reaction to a flu shot that is anything like my experience: While I had suffered a few sinus infections in the early 1990’s, they had been treated successfully by oral antibiotics. In late September 1993, I had gotten over a mild cold a week earlier, and so I decided to take a flu shot that my employer was giving out. I took the flu shot and went home. That evening, around 8 PM, I suddenly developed a torrent of thick yellow/green crap pouring out of my sinuses and down the back of my throat, making me gag and choke. I had never experienced anything like it in my life before. My physician diagnosed acute sinusitis one more time, and again put me on antibiotics. But this time, no antibiotic he prescribed worked. I ended up with chronic sinusitis from this, and eventually had to go for sinus surgery (which has been only partially successful anyway). I have always wondered if my taking the flu shot was a coincidence. That very day was the exact day that I developed chronic sinusitis for the first time, and I’ve had it ever since. — Steven D. Litvintchouk Email: sdlit…@earthlink.net
Response:
Filed under: Acute sinusitis
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