Is your daughter seeing an ENT Specialist who also treats allergy problems? In my opinion this sounds like nothing like cancer, i.e. Leukemia; definitely pure infection or infection secondary to allergies.
No she hasn't seen an ENT specialist because she's never had problems with allergies or chronic/persistent infections before. What I am concerned with is the fact that her infections don't respond well to antibiotics and her white count is still high after 3 different kinds of antibiotics over 3 weeks time.
Sometimes it is difficult to target the organism that is causing the infection. It is possible that the organism is NOT a bacterium, but a virus or fugus, in which case it will NOT respond to ATBs. Were cultures done? Viral and/or fungal panel done? (this is labwork)
If she had not responded to ATBs, etc. in months, then I would be concerned. Any other labs abnormal than the wbc count?
Recommendations: an ENT Specialist or ID Specialist (Infectious Disease)
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
If antibiotics are not really helping then your daughter does not have bacterial infection. It can be viral or fungal or it can be exposure to mold causing this. Check your home for things like a leaking pipe, a damp wall, a dark closet having dampness at the back, damp floor under the rug etc.
Other than this your daughter could be having allergy or maybe cystic fibrosis. Any inflammation in the body such as IBS, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic illness etc can also raise the count.
It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Do consult your doctor. Take care!
Thanks for all your feedback!
I have now taken her to an ENT and do not feel better as they say they want her to have surgery and this is the only sinus infection i can remember her having! She's only had sinus symptoms for a month! no deviated septum or anything- just inflammation most likely caused by infection. I have been told to get a second opinion, even by the radiologist who read her CT scan. I feel better that maybe her white count is up because this sinus infection is still there- and all the other feedback on here also. The radiologist said that it may be because sinus infections are hard to treat with antibiotics because of the lack of blood flow in that area. And I am having her tested for allergies including mold to check that out. Thank you for your help- I will switch to the sinus (or related) forum now I think.