Can sinus problems be due to an immune deficiency?
It is unusual, but sometimes sinus infections are caused by immune problems. In patients who have persistent sinus infections, it is important to have the immune system evaluated by an allergist/immunologist, especially before surgery is done. You may need to have allergy tests done, as well as tests done to make sure that you can form antibodies normally to common bacteria. ( For more discussion, please see the letters section.) Rarely, it can be due to AIDS, but don’t jump to conclusions: 99.9% of people with sinusitis don’t have AIDS.
