It is the most commonly self diagnosed and self treated condition. It is estimated that one in every 8th person suffers from some form of sinusitis in urban settings. Sinusitis also is a major burden to the workforce or school going children considering the amount of morbidity and associated viral infections and their eminent spread in the local community.
What are sinuses?
Sinuses are hollow bony projections from the nose into the face and skull, these hollow bones are lined with ciliary epithelium to filter and humidify the air we inhale. There are about four paired sinuses which are 8 sinuses in total, they are connected to the nose through very narrow channels.
Sinuses are hollow bones and are to stay that way to avoid excess weight in the head, to humidify and purify all the air we inhale and also to give that lovely resonance to our speech.
What is sinusitis?
Inflammation of the ciliary epithelium of sinuses is defined as sinusitis. There are various types of sinusitis.
Depending on the duration
- Acute sinusitis – lasts for 1 to 2 weeks.
- Sub acute sinusitis – lasts between 4 to 12 weeks.
- Chronic sinusitis – lasting for more than 12 weeks.
Depending on the cause
- Allergic sinusitis
- Bacterial sinusitis
- Fungal sinusitis
Signs and symptoms of sinusitis
Sinusitis is also a progressive disease there are no typical or atypical symptoms to zero in on the type or intensity of the disease, people may experience one or many of the following symptoms.Nasal inflammation
- Thick, discolored discharge from the nose (runny nose)
- Drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage)
- Blocked or stuffy (congested) nose causing difficulty breathing through your nose
- Pain, tenderness and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead
- Reduced sense of smell and taste
Other signs and symptoms can include:
- Ear pain
- Headache
- Aching in your upper jaw and teeth
- Cough or throat clearing
- Sore throat
- Bad breath
- Fatigue
How to diagnose sinusitis
Diagnosis of sinusitis entails a detailed medical and surgical history of the patient, in cases of allergic rhinitis family history also plays a major role
A thorough examination of the ear, nose and throat are done.
Some physicians or ENT surgeons may prefer to do an endoscopic examination of the nose.
Few blood investigations are done to rule out any superadded infections or immunocompromised status of the patient also sometimes to evaluate the patients allergic status.
CT scan of nose has been the gold standard test for sinusitis.
Treatment for sinusitis
There are various treatment options available in today’s day to manage sinusitis, finding the right treatment for you would need proper history taking and examination.
Medical management
- Oral and topical decongestants
- Antibiotics
- Oral or topical steroids
- Antifungals
Interventional management
- Balloon sinuplasty
- Functional endoscopic nasal surgery
Who gets sinusitis?
A sinus infection can happen to anyone. However, people with nasal allergies, nasal polyps, asthma and abnormal nose structures are all more likely to get sinusitis. Smoking can also increase how often you get a sinus infection
Can I Prevent Sinusitis?
There is no sure-fire way to prevent sinusitis. But there are some things that might help.
- Don’t smoke, and avoid other people’s smoke.
- Wash your hands often, especially during cold and flu season, and try not to touch your face.
- Stay away from things you know you’re allergic to. Talk to your doctor to see if you need prescription medicines, allergy shots, or other forms of immunotherapy.
- Use a clean humidifier to moisten the air at home.
- Get a yearly flu vaccine to protect yourself.
