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The very young
are at higher risk for more serious upper respiratory tract
infections and for complications from them. Smaller nasal and
sinus passages also make children more vulnerable to upper respiratory
tract infections than older children and adults.
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The very old are
at higher risk for more serious upper respiratory tract infections
and for complications from them. The elderly are at specific
risk because their nasal passages tend to dry out with age.
In addition, the cartilage supporting the nasal passages weakens
causing airflow changes. They also have diminished cough and
gag reflexes and faltering immune systems.
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Women appear to
be at higher risk than men are. Attributed to reasons of over-protection
and lack of opportunity to develop immunity.
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In the US, people
living in the Midwest and South have a higher incidence of sinusitis
than those in the Northeast and West.
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People in higher
income and educational groups appear to have a greater risk
than people in lower groups. This is generally attributed to
lack of adequate physical exercise form an early age. It is
also attributed to the fact that they are over-protected denying
them opportunity to develop immunity.
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Caucasian and
African Americans have a higher rate than Hispanic Americans.Young
Children and Sinusitis.
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All infants are
susceptible to respiratory infections before the immune system
matures, with a possible frequency of one cold every one or
two months.