Sinusitis
Sinusitis refers to
inflammation of the sinuses that occurs with a viral, bacterial, or fungal
infection.
Alternative
Names
Acute sinusitis; Sinus
infection; Sinusitis - acute; Sinusitis - chronic; Rhinosinusitis
Causes
The sinuses are air-filled
spaces in the skull (behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes) that
are lined with mucus membranes. Healthy sinuses contain no bacteria or other
germs. Usually, mucus is able to drain out and air is able to circulate.
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:
- Small hairs (cilia) in the sinuses, which help move
mucus out, do not work properly due to some medical conditions.
- Colds and allergies may cause too mucuh mucus to be
made or block the opening of the sinuses.
- A deviated nasal septum, nasal bone spur, or nasal
polyps may block the opening of the sinuses.
Sinusitis can be:
- Acute -- symptoms last 2 - 8 weeks
- Chronic -- symptoms last much longer
Acute sinusitis is caused by
damage to the lining of the sinuses from surgery or infections. Chronic
sinusitis may be caused by bacteria or a fungus.
The following may increase
your risk or your child's risk of developing sinusitis:
- Allergic rhinitis or hay fever
- Cystic fibrosis
- Day care
- Diseases that prevent the cilia from working properly,
such as Kartagener syndrome and immotile cilia syndrome.
- Changes in altitude (flying or scuba diving)
- Large adenoids
- Tooth infections (rare)
- Weakened immune system from HIV or chemotherapy
Symptoms
The classic symptoms of
acute sinusitis in adults usually follow a cold that does not improve, or one
that worsens after 5 - 7 days of symptoms. Symptoms include:
- Bad breath or loss of smell
- Cough, often worse at night
- Fatigue and generally not feeling well
- Fever
- Headache -- pressure-like pain, pain behind the eyes,
toothache, or facial tenderness
- Nasal congestion and discharge
- Sore throat and postnasal drip
Symptoms of chronic
sinusitis are the same as those of acute sinusitis, but tend to be milder and
last longer than 8 weeks.
Symptoms of sinusitis in children
include:
- Cold or respiratory illness that has been improving and
then begins to get worse
- High fever, along with a darkened nasal discharge, for
at least 3 days
- Nasal discharge, with or without a cough, that has been
present for more than 10 days and is not improving
Exams
and Tests
The doctor will examine you
or your child for sinusitis by:
- Looking in the nose for signs of polyps
- Shining a light against the sinus (transillumination)
for signs of inflammation
- Tapping over a sinus area to find infection
Regular x-rays of the
sinuses are not very accurate for diagnosing sinusitis.
However, these tests are not
very sensitive at detecting sinusitis, and are often considered unnecessary.
A CT scan of the sinuses may
also be used to help diagnose sinusitis. If sinusitis is thought to involve a
tumor or fungal infection, an MRI of the sinuses may be necessary.
Prevention
The best way to prevent
sinusitis is to avoid or quickly treat flus and colds:
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in
antioxidants and other chemicals that could boost your immune system and
help your body resist infection.
- Get an influenza vaccine each year.
- Reduce stress.
- Wash your hands often, particularly after shaking hands
with others.
Other tips for preventing
sinusitis:
- Avoid smoke and pollutants.
- Drink plenty of fluids to increase moisture in your
body.
- Take decongestants during an upper respiratory
infection.
- Treat allergies quickly and appropriately.
- Use a humidifier to increase moisture in your nose and
sinuses.
Sinus infections are usually
curable with self care and Homeopathy medical treatment. If you are having
recurrent attacks, you should be checked for underlying causes such as nasal
polyps or other problems, such as allergies.
Possible
Complications
Although very rare,
complications may include:
- Abscess
- Bone infection (osteomyelitis)
- Meningitis
- Skin infection around the eye (orbital cellulitis)
Consult your doctor if:
- Your symptoms last longer than 10 - 14 days or you have
a cold that gets worse after 7 days
- You have a severe headache, unrelieved by
over-the-counter pain medicine
- You have a fever
- You still have symptoms after taking all of your
antibiotics properly
A green or yellow discharge
does not necessarily indicate a sinus infection or the need for antibiotics.
Treatment
Try the following measures
to help reduce congestion in your sinuses:
- Apply a warm, moist washcloth to your face several
times a day.
- Drink plenty of fluids to thin the mucus.
- Inhale steam 2 - 4 times per day (for example, sitting
in the bathroom with the shower running).
- Spray with nasal saline several times per day.
- Use a humidifier.
Be careful with
over-the-counter spray nasal decongestants. They may help at first, but using
them beyond 3 - 5 days can actually worsen nasal congestion.
Also, for sinus pain or
pressure:
- Avoid flying when you are congested.
- Avoid temperature extremes, sudden changes in
temperature, and bending forward with your head down.
- Allergy shots (immunotherapy) to help prevent the
disease from returning
- Avoiding allergy triggers
- Nasal corticosteroid sprays and antihistamines to
decrease swelling, especially if there are swollen structures (such as
nasal polyps) or allergies
Homeopathy
treatment for sinusitis
Symptomatic Homeopathy
medicines works
well in chronic sinusitis along with self care,
Whom to contact for Sinusitis Treatment
Dr.Senthil Kumar Treats many cases of all
types of Sinusitis, In his medical professional experience with successful
results. Many patients get relief after taking treatment from Dr.Senthil
Kumar. Dr.Senthil Kumar visits Chennai at Vivekanantha Homeopathy Clinic,
Velachery, Chennai 42. To get appointment please call 9786901830, +91 94430
54168 or mail to consult.ur.dr@gmail.com,
For more details & Consultation Feel
free to contact us.
Vivekanantha
Clinic Consultation Champers at
Chennai:- 9786901830
Panruti:- 9443054168
Pondicherry:- 9865212055 (Camp)
For appointment please
Call us or Mail Us
For
appointment: SMS your Name -Age – Mobile Number - Problem in Single word -
date and day - Place of appointment (Eg: Rajini – 30 - 99xxxxxxx0 – sinusitis,
sinus head ache, சைனஸ்,
சைனசைட்டிஸ், தலையில் நீர் கோர்த்தல்
சைனஸ் தலைவலி – 21st Oct, Sunday - Chennai ), You will receive Appointment
details through SMS
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