Can you "catch" a sinus infection from someone? My MIL has a bad one & my son spent the weekend with her...her face is all swollen & she finally went to the dr. today to get put on an antibotic. I didn't think you could, but now he has been coughing ALOT more today then in awhile. PLEASE.......any facts would be greatly appreciated!!!
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sinus infection?
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
No, you cannot get a sinus infection from someone else. Sinus infections are considered secondary infections or complications that usually started out as something else (virus, flu, allergy, etc.) but developed into the sinus infection because the individual is predisposed to catching sinus infections for whatever reason. (low immune tolerance, allergies that weren't properly treated and got out of control, underlying medical condition such as cystic fibrosis, etc.) Therefore, your child can NOT catch the sinus infection from his grandmother. However, here's the tricky part, IF your mother in law's sinus infection is a complication from a flu or cold virus, your ds CAN catch the cold virus or flu from your MIL. If your mother in law's sinus infection was caused by allergies, that wouldn't be contagious. From the sounds of it, though, it's quite likely that your MIL's sinus infection started out as a cold which your ds now has. Whether or not it develops into a sinus infection depends on whether your ds is predisposed to them. For example, my ds has chronic sinusitis. When he catches nearly any cold from anyone, it always ends up as an acute sinus flare-up. My dd, on the other hand, has good sinuses but bad lungs. For her, colds are much more likely to develop into pneumonia than sinus infections but very often end up being nothing but a bad cold.
I hope I didn't confuse you more. My simple answer would be that unless you know for certain your MIL's sinus infections were caused by her allergies, I'd assume she had a cold and that your ds now has a cold. Watch him closely and follow whatever protocal your clinic suggests. I hope ds feels better soon.
I hope I didn't confuse you more. My simple answer would be that unless you know for certain your MIL's sinus infections were caused by her allergies, I'd assume she had a cold and that your ds now has a cold. Watch him closely and follow whatever protocal your clinic suggests. I hope ds feels better soon.
Thank you for your reply!! Her symptoms came on rather fast....yes she does have allergies also. My sons colds usually go to his lungs aslo...thus a hosptial visit.....or more antibotics first. He has been on bactrim for a month now....hopefully that will knock anything down. Thanks again for the reply!!!!
I've always wondered this myself. Not infection by being in the same room, but mishandling of kleenex, not washing hands, using hankies. My FIL has horrible sinus infections and is always sneezing and blowing his nose, wiping his face with paper towels or hankies and I'm always worried he'll transfer the infection from his sinuses to DS.