Sinus Infections

This past summer, my 4 year old with Down syndrome had a runny nose that just went on and on for months. We did two rounds of antibiotics and his nose would clear up while on the antibiotics and stay clear for a week or two following the antibiotics and then it would start right back up again. After the second round of antibiotics when the runny nose came back, the pediatrician didn't want to do antibiotics again but just let it run its course.  However, after 4 weeks of a crazy runny nose that just wasn't improving at all, I consulted the ENT. She said that if the runny nose cleared up while on the antibiotic that it was likely a sinus infection and that he should be considered contagious and that it may just be a resistant strain that would

require stronger antibiotic for longer. She had us come in and took a sample of his mucus from his nose and ran a culture that came back "heavy growth of strep bacteria." She put him on a stronger antibiotic for 21 days and that did the trick.   

Liam was runny nose free for about two months.  Then a cold swept through our family which left Liam with a thick yellow runny nose again.  As per the ENT's recommendation I waited until it had gone on for over 2 weeks and then I made an appointment.  I brought him in on day 18 of the runny nose and again she took a sample to culture.  This time it came back "heavy growth of Moraxella" (apparently a bacteria that commonly causes sinus infections).  Again antibiotics cleared it up in a few days.  

Liam has had these thick yellow runny noses that go on and on in the past and it was always a guessing game of whether it was a sinus infection or just a "Down's" thing.  The poor guy was suffering needlessly before when we just let it run and run.  I am so thankful for this new protocol of getting cultures done when his nose runs for more than two weeks.  It makes so much more sense to actually find out what is going on and whether he has developed a bacterial infection. And I am so grateful to no longer be wiping his nose constantly!