Question:
My 5 year old daughter has had a post-nasal drip since December,
following a month long ordeal of various colds. She would say there
was a tickle in her throat and cough. Her nose was slightly runny.
After three months of this we went to the doctor who checked her
lungs, nose, ears and throat and diagnosed allergies, since the nose
and throat had a "runny, watery look" that was consistant with
allergies. She was given 5 mg/day of Claritin and Nasonex once a day
at half the adult dose. The doctor was unimpressed with my story about
when the symptoms first began, which was directly after the end of her
last cold.
Two and a half weeks after the doctor's visit, there was no difference
in either the runny nose or the cough. My daughter was reexamined and
then switched over to Zyrtec, which slightly improved the slightly
runny nose but did little for the cough. The cough was what intrigued
me. She would cough first thing in the morning and sometimes spit up
this thick green (pardon this grossness) snot-like stuff from the back
of her throat after which a few good coughs she would feel better.
Sometimes she would waken at 4 in the morning coughing. This was
reported to the doctor who advised me to get a HEPA filter and take
allergy management procedures since dust/mold allergies are worse at
night.
A sinus X-ray to check for chronic sinusitis showed nothing abnormal.
After two weeks on Zyrtec with very little change in the cough I took
her off all medication. She's in the same boat as before. Still coughs
in the morning with that green "chewy spit" as she calls it, and her
nose cycles through slightly runny, one nostril stuffy, both nostrils
clear throughout the day but nothing to get worked up about. The
fequency of the coughs has slowly subsided over the course of the past
few months but it's still there.
The last month here was peak spring allergy season for this area but
there was little difference in her condition whether or not she was on
any medication. The doctor claims that it was the medication that may
have mitigated the symptoms of possible pollen allergies which may
have produced an otherwise worse condition (piled up with the
mold/dust allergies) without the medication.
So, my questions are:
1. Are there allergies where the only major symptom is a post-nasal
drip with thick green/yellow mucus in the morning which turns clearer
during the day (she has coughed up lighter yellow rubbery stuff during
the day but in less quantities)? She does not have the classic "hay
fever" nasal allergy symptoms although she wake up with slightly
crusty eyes two or three times last month. Her eyes are not watery or
glassy, never have been.
2. Can this be some sort of oddball sinus infection which creates the
goo which accumulates at night until she coughs it up?
3. Can a food allergy cause a gooey post-nasal drip and what would be
common culprits to think about?
Answer:
My experience is only limited to my own chronic sinusitus,
allergies and post-nasal drip, but I'll attempt to answer
some of your questions...
Typically, a green or yellow mucous secretion is indicative of an
infection present which needs to be treated. I am allergic to grasses, tree pollens, weeds, dust mites, dogs, cats,
etc. My symptoms are not the classic "hay fever" allergy symptoms that
are on TV. I have had crusty eyes, post-nasal drip, migraine headaches,
fatigue, sinus swelling where I can feel it on my face at the
intersection
of my nose & eyes, runny nose only on occasion but not always.
My post-nasal drip when coughed up (excuse the grossness) is clear.
So, the answer to your question, is yes.
It sounds like she has an infection which needs to be cleared up. I have found that if I get a sinus infection (and I haven't had one
in about 4 years), it is due to the mucous being too thick to
drain. The bad part is that to clear it up, you need to be on
antibiotics
for 2-3 weeks, because not much blood gets to the sinus area. I can't answer this question, as the I only avoid the food/food additive
items known to cause migraines. From your post, it sounds like you are dealing with your GP or
Pediatrician.
It seems like it may be time to have your daughter see an allergist. Just a few suggestions. I'm not a medical person. I have been doing
a lot of study and research into allergies/asthma because it relates
to my business.
First. I'd dump that doctor and look to either another pediatrician
that listens or in this case an ENT. This one seems to have no idea
what the problem is and worse won't listen to the best source of
information - you ! Whoever you go to I'd ask about the possibility
of a real tenacious sinus infection. Again, I am not a medical
professional aAlso ask him to explain sinusitis in detail to you.
With my allergies I'd often get a cough at night from drainage from my
nose
Second. I'd do a thorough examination of where that little girl
sleeps. How old is the pillow? Any older than a year I'd replace it.
Why? Dust mites and their feces. Everyone sheds dead skin naturally.
Dust mites love it and the fungus that grows on it. The pillow is one
of the biggest collectors of both. A lot of folks are real sensitive
to them.
