What is a sinus?
Sinus disease is a major health
problem affecting more than 30 million people just across America. It is an
inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses. Healthy sinuses, are
filled with air, but as they become blocked and get filled with fluid, germs can
grow and cause a severe infection.
Commonly there are four pairs of
these cavities each referred to as the:
3. Ethmoid Sinuses (between the Eyes), and
4. Sphenoid Sinus (deep behind the
Ethmoids).
People who have allergies, asthma,
structural blockages in the nose or sinuses, or people with weak immune systems
are at greater risk.
Causes
Common causes of chronic sinusitis
include:
·
Nasal Polyps — These are soft, painless,
noncancerous growths on the inner layer of your nasal passages or sinuses.
·
Deviated nasal septum — A deviated nasal septum happens
when the thin nasal septum between your nasal passages is moved to one side.
·
Respiratory tract infections
(RTIs) — Infections
in your respiratory tract, commonly caused due to cold, this can inflame and
thicken your sinus membranes and block mucus drainage. One need to be extra
careful as these infections are viral, bacterial or fungal.
·
Allergies such as hay fever — Certain types of soreness or
irritation caused due to allergies can block your sinuses.
Common Symptoms
o Nasal stuffiness or congestion
o Postnasal drip
o Tenderness of the face (under the
eyes or at the bridge of the nose)
o Bad breath
o Frontal headaches
o Discolored nasal discharge
o Coughing
o Pain in the teeth
o Fever
o Fatigue
o
Other Common Risk Factors
You're at higher risk of getting
infected by chronic or frequent sinusitis if you have:
o Abnormality in the nasal passage
o Asthma - highly linked to chronic
sinusitis
o Aspirin sensitivity
o An immune system disorder
o Hay fever or another allergic
condition
o Regular exposure to pollutants or
smoking
Diagnosis
Primary assessment to diagnose
sinus, your doctor will feel for tenderness in your nose & face and look
inside your nose.
Other methods for diagnosing
chronic sinusitis include:
·
Nasal endoscopy or Rhinoscopy.
·
Imaging studies - CT scan or MRI
·
Nasal and sinus cultures
·
An allergy test
Treatment
The objective of treating chronic
sinusitis is to:
Ø Reduce sinus inflammation
Ø Maintain your nasal passages
draining
Ø Remove or reduce the common causes
Ø Lessen the number of sinusitis
flare-up
Sinus Infection treatments
include:
·
Saline nasal irrigation
·
Nasal corticosteroids.
·
Oral or injected corticosteroids.
·
Aspirin desensitization treatment
·
Antibiotics
·
Immunotherapy
·
Endoscopic sinus surgery
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