Sinusitis – What is it, Causes and Treatments

Sinusitis, what it is, Causes and Treatments on how to relieve symptoms safely and effectively. In addition, sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses that  generates symptoms such as headache, runny nose and a feeling of heaviness in the face, especially on the forehead and cheekbones, as it is in these places that the sinuses are located . Usually, sinusitis is caused by the Influenza virus and, therefore, is very common during flu attacks , but it can also arise due to the development of bacteria in nasal secretions , which are trapped inside the sinuses , as happens after allergies. Now that we know what Sinusitis is. So learn more about Sinusitis – What is it, Causes and Treatments.

There are 4 different types of sinusitis:

• Acute: It has the characteristics of a cold and lasts approximately 4 weeks. It usually occurs in winter.
• Sub-acute: Inflammation lasts 4 to 8 weeks.
• Chronic: Symptoms last longer than 8 weeks.
• Recurring: Several times a year

Causes of Sinusitis:  Sinusitis can be caused by infectious agents such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, as well as by allergic factors. Dust, heat shock and active smells are listed as triggers for allergic rhinopathy. Exposure to certain chemical agents and changes in nasal or sinus anatomy are part of the other group responsible for sinusitis. There are even rarer cases that lead to sinusitis, such as the presence of a tumor.

Deviated nasal septum: It happens when the wall between the nostrils is crooked and causes a deviation in the sinuses and can block them.

Trauma to the face: When a bone in the face is fractured it can cause obstruction of the nasal passages .

Allergic reactions: Causes caused by air such as dust, pollen, pollution, hair, mold, cigarettes, etc.

Respiratory infections: The most common are flu and cold which inflame and block mucus drainage and creating conditions for bacteria to grow. These infections can be viral, bacterial, or caused by fungi.

Other diseases: Respiratory diseases such as rhinitis and asthma, can favor the origin of sinusitis.

Diseases or even drugs that weaken immunity: Complications of cystic fibrosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, AIDS, and other factors that affect the immune system can block the nasal passages .

Immune system cells: Immune system cells called eosinophils can cause sinus inflammation.

Nasal polyps: Tissue growth that blocks the nasal passages. Know how to differentiate sinusitis from the flu through the symptoms of sinusitis that we will see below.

Symptoms of Sinusitis: Chronic sinusitis and acute sinusitis have similar symptoms, but acute sinusitis is temporary and often associated with a cold. For example, fever is just a common symptom of acute sinusitis and not chronic sinusitis. At least two of the following symptoms must be present for a diagnosis of chronic sinusitis:

• Mucous, greenish-yellow phlegm in the nose or throat;
• Nasal obstruction or congestion that causes difficulty breathing through the nose;
• Pain, tenderness and swelling around the eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead
• Reduction or loss of smell and taste;
• Duration of more than 12 weeks;
• Earache;
• Pain in the upper jaw and teeth;
• Cough;
• Sore throat;
• Bad breath;
• Fatigue or irritability;
• Nausea;

Chronic sinusitis and acute sinusitis have similar signs and symptoms, but acute sinusitis is a temporary sinus infection often associated with a cold. Chronic rhinosinusitis, on the other hand, corresponds to an inflammatory process with a prolonged duration (greater than 12 weeks) and can also be classified as chronic rhinosinusitis with polyposis and chronic rhinosinusitis without polyposis.

Treatments for Sinusitis:  Treatment for acute sinusitis is usually done with medication prescribed by the otolaryngologist, however some home measures such as nasal wash with salt water or saline, or steam inhalations can help reduce the symptoms and discomfort of the disease. .
Thus, drug treatment for sinusitis typically includes the use of:

• Analgesics and anti-inflammatories such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen, for example, to relieve headache and facial bone pain, and reduce sinus inflammation ;
• Nasal sprays  such as Nasonex, on doctor’s advice that serve to reduce sinus inflammation and relieve nasal congestion, runny nose, itching and sneezing;
• Nasal decongestants  such as Sorine, under the guidance of the doctor, to make secretions more fluid and easier to eliminate;
• Oral corticosteroids such as Prednisone, under medical indication and prescription, to treat sinus inflammation .

In addition to these remedies, which can be used in the treatment of viral sinusitis, the use of antibiotics such as Amoxicillin or Azithromycin, for example, under medical advice, is recommended in the treatment of bacterial sinusitis, that is, when it is caused by a bacterial infection. .

In the treatment of allergic sinusitis, in addition to these remedies, the doctor may prescribe antiallergic drugs such as Loratadine or Cetirizine, for example, to treat inflammation of the sinuses caused  by an allergy to dust or food, for example.