Sinusitis Treatment
What is Sinusitis?
The air-filled cavities located around the nose, forehead, temples, and eyes are called sinuses. These sinuses open into the nose through canals. The nasal mucosa lining these canals produces a secretion that keeps the airways in the nose warm and moist. Sinusitis refers to the inflammation of this mucosa.
In general, there are two types of sinusitis: acute and chronic. Acute sinusitis refers to newly developed inflammation and can be fully treated with appropriate care. Chronic sinusitis, however, indicates persistent inflammation in the sinuses and is more challenging to treat.
What are the Causes of Sinusitis?
Sinusitis can easily develop when the normal functioning of the sinuses is disrupted. It often occurs following upper respiratory tract infections. During such infections, the canals connecting the sinuses to the nose become blocked, causing sinus secretions to accumulate instead of draining into the nose. This creates an environment where microbes multiply, leading to inflammation. Other factors that can contribute to sinusitis include allergies, nasal bone deviation, adenoid hypertrophy, weakened immune system, and concha hypertrophy.
What are the Symptoms of Sinusitis?
Sinusitis is often mistaken for other types of headaches, particularly migraines. However, its symptoms are not limited to headaches.
- Pain in the face, eyes, and head (intensifying during coughing, heavy lifting, or bending over).
- Yellow-green nasal discharge or bloody nasal discharge
- Loss of sense of smell
- Sore throat
- Loss of sense of smell
- Toothache
- Mild fever
- Postnasal drip
- Fatigue and weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- A sensation of high pressure across the face
- Cough
How is Sinusitis Diagnosed?
An Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist takes a detailed medical history and performs a physical examination. X-rays may be required to evaluate the condition of the sinuses, and in cases of chronic sinusitis, a computed tomography (CT) scan may be necessary.
Acute Sinusitis
Symptoms of acute sinusitis include facial pain or pressure, nasal congestion, runny nose, and a diminished sense of smell.
Additional symptoms may include fever, bad breath, fatigue, toothache, and cough.
Acute sinusitis can persist for four weeks or longer. Patients often experience two or more symptoms and/or dark green-yellow nasal discharge.
If symptoms worsen after five days, it may indicate an acute bacterial infection. If these symptoms persist for 10 days or are unusually severe, they may be linked to a viral infection.
Acute Sinusitis Treatment
With early diagnosis, acute sinusitis can often be treated effectively without the need for antibiotics. If the infection is bacterial and does not resolve, antibiotic therapy is prescribed. Decongestants, pain relievers, nasal sprays, or drops can support the treatment process. If sinusitis is caused by an allergy, the allergen must be identified and eliminated. Smoking should be avoided during the treatment period.
Symptoms of Chronic Sinusitis
Surgical intervention may be considered for chronic sinusitis. Depending on the patient’s condition, balloon sinuplasty can be performed. After sinus surgery, it is crucial to attend follow-up dressing appointments regularly and avoid factors that trigger sinusitis.
Sinus surgery may be recommended if the prescribed medications fail to treat sinusitis effectively and if the condition has become chronic.
What is the recovery time after surgery to treat sinusitis?
A simple endoscopic surgical procedure is performed under local or general anesthesia.
Patients typically resume normal activities within 4 days, while complete recovery from sinusitis may take up to 4 weeks.
What is the success rate of sinus surgery?
Surgery for sinusitis treatment enables the sinuses to open naturally. Otolaryngologists and head and neck surgeons consider endoscopic surgery highly effective in restoring normal sinus function. This procedure alleviates blockages and restores the natural flow of mucus.
How is a physical examination for sinusitis performed?
Specialist doctors at our clinic begin with a comprehensive ear, nose, and throat examination. During the physical exam, the doctor assesses the cheekbones and surrounding areas for swelling or redness.
Facial swelling and redness tend to be more pronounced in the morning and decrease throughout the day due to upright posture. The doctor checks for tenderness by pressing on the sinuses.
Additionally, the doctor examines your teeth to help identify any inflamed paranasal sinuses.
What kind of treatment does the specialist recommend?
To alleviate congestion, the doctor may prescribe nasal sprays, nasal drops, or oral decongestants. Antibiotics may be prescribed for bacterial infections in the sinuses, but they are not effective against viral infections. Antihistamines might also be recommended to manage allergies.
How is sinusitis diagnosed?
Sinusitis diagnosis begins with a physical examination. Following this, additional diagnostic tests are conducted at our clinic. These may include laboratory analyses (such as mucus cultures), nasal endoscopy, X-rays, allergy tests, and CT scans of the sinuses.
Nasal endoscopy is a particularly important diagnostic tool for sinusitis.
What relieves sinusitis pain?
Several measures can be taken at home to alleviate sinusitis pain. For instance, warm and humid air can help ease sinus congestion and discomfort.
Taking a hot bath, enjoying a steam shower, inhaling moist air from a container of hot water, or applying warm compresses can provide relief. To apply a compress, place a warm, damp towel on your face for 5 to 10 minutes several times a day. Saline nasal drops or sprays may help reduce congestion. Additionally, drinking plenty of fluids can be beneficial in relieving sinusitis pain.
How effective are over-the-counter pills and sprays for sinusitis?
Over-the-counter medications and sprays can help alleviate symptoms such as sinusitis pain. However, using decongestant nasal sprays for longer than recommended may worsen symptoms, as prolonged use can increase sinus headaches. Saline nasal sprays or drops are safe for long-term use.
Are any lifestyle changes necessary during treatment for sinusitis?
Smoking is harmful in all circumstances. However, individuals undergoing sinusitis treatment must refrain from smoking. No special diet is required, but consuming plenty of fluids can help reduce the viscosity of mucus.
What happens if infected sinuses are not treated?
Sinusitis causes persistent pain and discomfort, which can significantly impact daily life and reduce work productivity. In rare cases, untreated sinusitis may lead to serious complications such as meningitis, brain abscesses, or infections in the bone or bone marrow.
Where should people with sinus pain be treated?
If you are experiencing severe sinus pain, you should consult an ear, nose, and throat specialist or a head and neck surgeon. Specialist doctors will determine the appropriate treatment, which may involve medication or surgical intervention.
Nasal Endoscopy
Nasal endoscopy is a procedure used to examine the nose and sinuses. Since local anesthesia is applied, patients do not experience discomfort during the procedure.
An endoscope is a specialized fiber optic instrument designed for internal examination of a canal or hollow organ. Visual inspection of the nasal and sinus drainage areas using an endoscope is an effective diagnostic method, depending on the physician’s preference.
Why is Nasal Endoscopy Performed?
Nasal endoscopy provides specialists with a reliable visual assessment of all areas within the sinus drainage pathways. To prepare for this imaging, the patient’s nasal cavities are anesthetized, ensuring they experience no discomfort during the procedure.
Afterward, a rigid or flexible endoscope is inserted into the area to be examined. Endoscopy can identify obstructions, hidden nasal polyps that may not be detected during routine examinations, and structural abnormalities contributing to recurrent sinusitis.
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