Nasal Inflammation Nasal Inflammation    sinusitis Sinusitis    sinusitis HOME


Sinusitis

Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. It occurs as the result of an infection from a virus, bacteria, or fungus.

Causes of Sinusitis

The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull. They are located behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes. Healthy sinuses contain no bacteria or other germs. Most of the time, mucus is able to drain out and air is able to flow through the sinuses.

When the sinus openings become blocked or too much mucus builds up, bacteria and other germs can grow more easily.

Sinusitis can occur from one of these conditions:

There are two types of sinusitis:

The following may increase the risk that an adult or child will develop sinusitis:

Symptoms of Sinusitis

The symptoms of acute sinusitis in adults usually follow a cold that does not get better or gets worse after 5 - 7 days. Symptoms include:

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are the same as those of acute sinusitis, but tend to be milder and last longer than 12-weeks.

Symptoms of sinusitis in children include:

Exams and Tests for Sinusitis

The doctor will examine you or your child for sinusitis by:

Most of the time, regular x-rays of the sinuses do not diagnose sinusitis well.

Viewing the sinuses through a fiber optic scope (called nasal endoscopy or rhinoscopy) may help diagnose sinusitis. This is often done by doctors who specialize in ear, nose, and throat problems (ENTs).

Imaging tests that may be used to decide on treatment are:

If you or your child has sinusitis that does not go away or keeps returning, other tests may include:

Treatment for Sinusitis

SELF CARE

Try the following measures to help reduce congestion in your sinuses:

Be careful with use of over-the-counter spray nasal decongestants. They may help at first, but using them for more than 3 - 5 days can make nasal stuffiness worse.

To help ease sinus pain or pressure:

MEDICATIONS AND OTHER TREATMENTS

Most of the time, antibiotics are not needed for acute sinusitis. Most of these infections go away on their own. Even when antibiotics do help, they may only slightly reduce the time it takes for the infection to go away. Antibiotics may be prescribed sooner for:

Acute sinusitis should be treated for 10 - 14 days. Chronic sinusitis should be treated for 3 - 4 weeks. Some people with chronic sinusitis may need special medicines to treat fungal infections.

At some point, your doctor will consider:

Other treatments for sinusitis include:

Surgery to enlarge the sinus opening and drain the sinuses may also be needed. You may need to consider this procedure if:

An ENT specialist (also known as an otolaryngologist) can perform this surgery.

Most fungal sinus infections need surgery. Surgery to repair a deviated septum or nasal polyps may prevent the condition from returning.

Outlook / Prognosis for Sinusitis

Most sinus infections can be cured with self-care measures and medical treatment. If you are having repeated attacks, you should be checked for causes such as nasal polyps or other problems, such as allergies.

Possible Complications of Sinusitis

Although very rare, complications may include:

When to Contact a Medical Professional for Sinusitis

Call your doctor if:

A green or yellow discharge does not mean that you definitely have a sinus infection or need antibiotics.

Prevention

The best way to prevent sinusitis is to avoid colds and flu or treat problems quickly.

Other tips for preventing sinusitis:

Alternative Names for Sinusitis

Acute sinusitis; Sinus infection; Sinusitis - acute; Sinusitis - chronic; Rhinosinusitis