Sinusitis
Acute Sinusitis
Sinusitis lasting less than four weeks.
subacute
The symptoms of such infections last for 4 to 8 weeks and may not respond to treatment in the first place. The course of sinusitis varies between acute and chronic.
Chronic
These are the conditions in which there is no regression or improvement in their complaints for 6-8 weeks despite appropriate treatment.
Recurrent
If you have 3 or more acute sinusitis attacks in a year, it is called recurrent sinusitis.
Sinusitis can also be seen after upper respiratory tract infections such as the common cold. During these infections, the mucous membrane covering the inside of the nose swells and therefore prevents the sinuses from opening into the nasal cavity.
Along with upper respiratory tract infections, allergies also cause the mucous tissue to swell and produce more mucus by a similar system, thus closing the sinus openings.
Other conditions that can lead to sinusitis include:
- Abnormalities in the structure of the nose
- Enlarged adenoids (genes)
- Diving and swimming
- Dental infections and complications of their treatment
- nose injury
- Foreign bodies stuck in the nose
- Cigarettes and cigarette smoke
In such cases, where the sinuses are prevented from opening into the nasal cavity, the inside of the sinuses becomes a suitable breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. This bacterial or viral growth creates an infection inside the sinuses, causing sinusitis. The bacteria and viruses that most commonly cause sinusitis are also the ones that can be detected frequently in upper respiratory tract infections.
Symptoms
Although the symptoms of sinusitis may vary depending on age, the following symptoms may occur:
- runny nose that lasts longer than 7 to 10 days
- Cough
- swelling around the eyes
- Postnasal drip
- Headache
- facial pain
- bad breath
- Fire
- A feeling of fullness in the ears
- Decreased sense of smell
Diagnostic Methods
The diagnosis of sinusitis can be made by your doctor’s evaluation of his complaints and examination; In addition, your doctor may also request tests such as:
- nose culture
- direct graphy (x-ray)
- computed tomography
- blood tests
Treatment Methods
The treatment of sinusitis, which is an inflammation of the sinuses, which can be defined as air-filled pockets opening into the nasal cavity, can be applied in different ways by your physician, taking into account various factors such as the patient’s age, the underlying cause of the sinusitis, what type of bacteria or viruses the disease originates from.
Your doctor may use some nasal sprays and washes to relieve nasal congestion, and pain relievers to relieve headache and facial pain. In addition to these, antibiotics can be used in the treatment of sinusitis thought to be of bacterial origin, while they may not be needed in sinusitis thought to be viral origin.
As a result of the controls made by your physician, you may be referred to an allergist or immunologist for chronic or recurrent sinusitis.
In some chronic cases, surgical operations can be offered as a treatment option.
