Question 1

i've been on zithromax since 1/21 for inner ear and sinus infection, but still have the dizziness, when will it go away or could it be a brain tumor?

Accepted Answer

Ear infection: Inner ear infections can affect balance. This is a complex system and usually will recover slower than the actual infection, sometimes as long as 3-4 weeks.  If symptoms persist longer than this timeframe, reevaluation is indicated by your treating physician. Brain tumors of the inner ear can cause dizziness as a presenting symptom, but most of these tumors present with hearing loss.

Question 2

doctors, what are the odds of having a sinus infection and a brain tumor?

Accepted Answer

According to: the CDC, 12% of adults in US are diagnosed with sinusitis.  According to cancer.gov, lifetime risk of CNS neoplasm is 0.6%.  They are independent of one another, so risk of both is computed by multiplying the individual probabilities...it is 0.072%.

Question 3

anxiety/panic attacks? hello, i have not been diagnosed with anxiety but i think i have it. ever since i started getting headaches from my sinus infection i convinced my self that i have a brain tumor or brain aniresum because i looked the symptoms up onl

Accepted Answer

Hello, : Hello, lets start with providing some information about anxiety and panic attacks since you are specifically inquiring about those conditions.
       Anxiety can present with feeling nervous or restless; getting tired more easily; feeling irritable; problems with sleep; muscle tension (especially in the muscles surrounding the skull, as well as neck and upper back muscles); or feeling so anxious that your mind goes blank. 
        Panic attacks are a type of anxiety disorder. They are usually discreet episodes that can last a few minute up to around ten minutes. They can be quite unsettling and can include symptoms like: feeling very panicked; trembling, sweating more; having difficulty breathing with more rapid breaths; chest tightness or pain; nausea or butterflies in stomach sensation; feeing dizzy; a pounding or rapid heart beat; feeling numbness or tingling in certain areas and sometimes the fear that you are going crazy or that you are dying. 
  As you know, doctors don't diagnose patients by websites. However, it does sound like you have an obsessive fear right now.  If your doctor has not evaluated your sinus problems, i suggest you get  it checked out. That way you will know the cause, it can be treated and hopefully the doctor can help to calm your fears. If you have already seen the doctor for this and you are still focused on the possibility that you have a tumor or an aneurysm, than i suggest that you call him or her to let them know that you are obsessing over the issue.  At that point, the doctor can help develop a plan for how to overcome this.  Good luck - try to stop fretting.

Question 4

can brain tumors be misdiagnosed as frontal sinus infections?

Accepted Answer

Not expected: Typically imaging can easily distinguish, other than the occurrence of a naso-pharyngeal carcinoma invading the sinuses.

Question 5

can sinusitis be a cause of swollen optic nerves in both eyes? scheduled for an mri but very nervous hoping its not a brain tumor. thanks!

Accepted Answer

Possible: Ethmoid,  ,  spenoid  ,  frontal  are  near  optic  vicinity  if  infected  may rarerly  , i  have  never  seen    pituitary  tomr  might  give  swelling  mti  good  idea..  See  an  eye  m.D asap.

Question 6

floor feels like it moves when i stand up and laying down i'm ok but certain ways i move my head i can get dizzy headed. dr said frontal sinus infection and said it wasn't bppv nor inner ear. tumor?

Accepted Answer

Doubt sinus problem: Frontal sinus if properly diagnosed by a cat scan almost never produces the feeling you are describing.  How was the diagnosis of frontal sinusitis made?  It does not sound like you have had a ct of the sinuses.  Otherwise, you would not question tumor.  If bppv (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) has been ruled out, a neurologist may be helpful.

Question 7

can a ct scan detect if i have an inner ear infection or brain tumor?

Accepted Answer

MRi better: Ct's can miss small brain tumors.

Question 8

i'm scared my sinus infection will spread to my brain! please help me!?

Accepted Answer

Possible: Sphenoid sinusitis most likely to cause meningitis. It and frontal infections can also cause epidural and brain abscess.  Ethmoid infections less likely but these can spread to orbit.  Maxillary infections rarely spread.  Adolescent males are at higher risk for spread of infection into brain. Worry if severe headache, fever, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, .

Question 9

how can i tell the difference between a brain abscess and sinus infection?

Accepted Answer

Neurological finding: The combination of headache, fever and focal neurologic findings are highly suggestive of brain abscess. Neurologic findings include trouble walking, speaking, eating and swallowing, severe memory issues, confusion, seizures and many other symptoms. Sinus infections are very common and brain abscesses extremely rare.

Question 10

when to know when a sinus infection has spread to the eyes and brain?

Accepted Answer

Bad news: The signs depends on which sinus cavity is involved.  Earliest is proptosis (eye bulging forward), pain in or around the eye, double vision and then decreased vision.  Frontal sinus can cause droopy eyelid as well.

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Doctor answers about:

Sinus infection or brain tumor

A member asked:

I've been on zithromax since 1/21 for inner ear and sinus infection, but still have the dizziness, when will it go away or could it be a brain tumor?

A member asked:

Doctors, what are the odds of having a sinus infection and a brain tumor?

A member asked:

Anxiety/panic attacks? hello, i have not been diagnosed with anxiety but i think i have it. ever since i started getting headaches from my sinus infection i convinced my self that i have a brain tumor or brain aniresum because i looked the symptoms up onl

A member asked:

Can brain tumors be misdiagnosed as frontal sinus infections?

A member asked:

Can sinusitis be a cause of swollen optic nerves in both eyes? scheduled for an mri but very nervous hoping its not a brain tumor. thanks!

A member asked:

Floor feels like it moves when i stand up and laying down i'm ok but certain ways i move my head i can get dizzy headed. dr said frontal sinus infection and said it wasn't bppv nor inner ear. tumor?

A member asked:

Can a ct scan detect if i have an inner ear infection or brain tumor?

A member asked:

I'm scared my sinus infection will spread to my brain! please help me!?

A member asked:

How can i tell the difference between a brain abscess and sinus infection?

A member asked:

When to know when a sinus infection has spread to the eyes and brain?

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