10 Causes of Sinus Infection
Cause #5: Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that usually affects the lungs, the pancreas, the liver, the kidneys, and the intestines. It is a progressive disease due to a mutation of the transmembrane conductance regulator gene CFTR, which makes the CFTR protein dysfunctional. In these cases, the chloride is not able to move normally from the inner side of the cell to the surface, which makes the mucus become thicker and sticky.
Acute and chronic sinus infections are a common complication of cystic fibrosis that can cause significant signs and symptoms and, in some cases, they can make the lung disease even worse. Most patients with cystic fibrosis suffer from infection and inflammation of all the sinuses, a condition otherwise known as pansinusitis. Signs and symptoms of sinus infection caused by cystic fibrosis include nasal congestion, post nasal drip, coughing, a constant need to clear the throat, severe bad breath, headaches, and fever.
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