Freaking out about my son!!! Please help with this!!Cysitic Fibrosis?!
Question: My son is 9 yrs old and has severe allergy problems. He takes nasonex daily and loratadine. He has had nasal polyps before and had surgery to remove them. The last time I took him to the ear/throat/nose specialist he tells me that nasal polyps in children are very unusual and almost always related to cystic fibrosis. Ok, I discussed this with his pediatrician and she said it was nothing to worry about..but she seemed to always overlook things and was wrong most of the time. This was a few years ago. I have changed his dr since then. So last night I was lookin in his throat for some strange reason and there are polyps there! I looked up his nose and there are polyps there too! I am really freaking out! He has appt w/dr on Monday! I don't think I can wait til then! Is it possible that he may have cystic fibrosis and not been diagnosed at this age? He is healthy otherwise and is full of energy and seems to be growing fine. Please help me if you know info on this or have CF.
Answers: My son is 9 yrs old and has severe allergy problems. He takes nasonex daily and loratadine. He has had nasal polyps before and had surgery to remove them. The last time I took him to the ear/throat/nose specialist he tells me that nasal polyps in children are very unusual and almost always related to cystic fibrosis. Ok, I discussed this with his pediatrician and she said it was nothing to worry about..but she seemed to always overlook things and was wrong most of the time. This was a few years ago. I have changed his dr since then. So last night I was lookin in his throat for some strange reason and there are polyps there! I looked up his nose and there are polyps there too! I am really freaking out! He has appt w/dr on Monday! I don't think I can wait til then! Is it possible that he may have cystic fibrosis and not been diagnosed at this age? He is healthy otherwise and is full of energy and seems to be growing fine. Please help me if you know info on this or have CF.
take him to a pediatric pulmonologist. They will do a sweat test that is non-invasive and takes a couple of hours.
Polyps are not that uncommon. There is a condition called Samters Triad that he could have.
go here: http://www.internethealthlibrary.com/Hea...
unless he has had aspirin (which at his age he should not have had, there is no way to know if he is aspirin sensitive. My sons both are...one who was born in 1980 and so showed the allergy in infancy..the other who reacted to motrin at age 7..after using it all through infancy and childhood to that point..they are both aspirin and NSAID sensitive..)
The most common cause of polyps is allergies..specifically allergy to dust mites. Only 1/4 of people with CF have polyps...
If your son had CF you'd know it. It's hardly a stealthy condition.
Sorry to hear about the polyps, though. They can be a nuisance and shouldn't be left to themselves.
If your son had CF, it would have displayed itself very evidently, so, for now, he doesn't. Nasal polyps are indeed considered one of the possible precursors to CF, possible, not an engraved in stone diagnosis. Don't be quite so paranoid mom. Just make sure he gets the polyps taken care of, and have him get annual check ups.
CF can develop at any age, tho it usually comes on in childhood. And I personally know many people who are alive well into their sixties so far with CF, it isn't the death sentence it was as little as 15 years ago.
Severe allergies promote the growth of polyps without having to have another disease present. Allergies are horrible and make a person feel terrible. It doesn't necessarily mean that there is another problem as the allergies are bad enough by themselves. If you are concerned, then have him tested. I am sure that he has severe allergies and will need stronger treatments to try to control them. Allergies that are severe usually promote Sinusitis (recurrent sinus infections).
You said your son has used Nasonex daily. One of the more common side effects of Nasonex is nasal and throat polyps. I would consider his condition one that was probably induced by his medications instead of CF. Please try to relax until you see his doctor. They will perform the appropriate tests for CF and then you will have your answer. In the meantime, I am betting they are simply the result of his allergy treatments and they can easily be taken care of. Good luck and stop worrying. It won't help either of you.