Sinusitis – Surgery, Causes, Treatment  and Procedure

No matter the season, having a cold is never convenient. It’s even worse when your cold turns into a sinus infection. A sinus infection will stick around long after symptoms of an upper respiratory infection are gone. You might even know it’s a sinus infection because you get sinus infections frequently. Perhaps your doctor diagnosed your sinus infection after you just couldn’t seem to get better. After all, since almost 30 million Americans suffer from sinusitis, your doctor likely treats them a lot.

The question is, when do you need to see a specialist? If your sinus infection just isn’t going away, or if you seem to get recurrent sinus infections, it may be time to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist.

 

What is Sinusitis?

The paranasal sinuses are air-filled spaces in the bones of the skull that connect to the nasal cavity. They are lined by specialized cells called mucosa. The sinuses require the free flow of gases and secretions into the nose.  Sometimes the pathways that connect the sinuses to the nose become blocked and the mucosa becomes unhealthy. The sinuses get infected and filled with secretions, pus, and polyps. Pressure builds up and can result in pain. Acute sinusitis is a condition characterized by fever, severe facial pain and unpleasant mucous from the nose.

There are four pairs of sinuses in the body i.e. frontal sinuses, ethmoid sinuses, sphenoid sinuses and maxillary sinuses. The most commonly affected sinuses are maxillary.

 

What causes a sinus infection?

In most cases, acute sinusitis is caused by a bacterial or viral infection, which means it usually develops after you’ve had a cold or the flu. It’s possible for an acute sinus infection to develop into a chronic infection over time. However, most chronic sinus infections are caused by:

• Problems with the physical structure of your sinuses such as nasal polyps, narrow sinuses, or a deviated septum
• Allergies such as hay fever that cause inflammation

Certain health conditions are also known to accompany chronic sinusitis. These include:

• Asthma
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Primary immune deficiency disesase

 

The most common symptoms include:

• Fever of 101°F or higher
• Green or yellow nasal discharge
• Pain in your face or upper teeth
• Headaches
• Cold symptoms lasting longer than 10 days
• Pain or congestion in your sinuses (pain on either side of your nose, in your forehead, or between your eyes)
• A cough caused by a postnasal drip in the back of your throat

Is your sinus infection acute or chronic?

A short-term sinus infection is often referred to as acute sinusitis. Most cases of acute sinusitis last about a week, but this type of short-term sinus infection can last up to four weeks. If you suffer from a sinus infection that lasts longer than 12 weeks despite treatment from your doctor, it’s considered chronic sinusitis.

 

Treatment Options 

Sinusitis can be treated initially with home remedies and other medications

Home remedies:

• Steam Therapy
• Warm Compress
• Set up a Humidifier
• Try Nasal Irrigation
• Get enough Rest
• Drink enough Water
• Use a saline nasal spray
• Use a nasal steroid spray

Medications:

• Antibiotics are prescribed if the symptoms persist beyond a week.
• Decongestants reduce the swelling in the mucous membranes.
• Analgesics help to reduce the pain.
• Corticosteroids reduce the inflammation in the nasal passages. They are available as sprays or drops and are used to treat chronic sinusitis.
• Mucolytics help in thinning the mucus.

Balloon Sinuplasty

Balloon Sinuplasty is a relatively injury free alternative to open up blocked sinuses by enlarging the natural openings. In the process, the patient is relieved from the symptoms of a headache, facial pain, the feeling of heaviness in the head, nasal discharge and fever associated with sinusitis.

if you’re suffering from sinusitis, consult our ENT specialist Dr. Navin Shukla.