ENT Blogs

Sinusitis is a medical condition that causes inflammation or swelling in the tissue lining area of sinuses. Sinuses are responsible for making mucus that keeps your nose moist from the inside. This helps to prevent:

• Dust
• Pollutants
• Allergens
• Bacteria

From entering your body through your use, and causing any infection. Although sinuses are filled with air, they might get blocked due to the buildup of fluids, resulting in the growth of germs and causing some sort of infection.

There are several conditions that can cause sinus blockage, which include:

• Common cold
• Swelling on the lining of the nose, called ‘Allergic Rhinitis’
• ‘Nasal Polyps’, it is a small growth in the lining of the nose area
• A shift in nasal cavity, called a ‘Deviated Septum’

Different Types of Sinusitis

Following are the different types of sinusitis that you might have heard of from an ENT specialist:

• Acute Sinusitis

It usually starts with the common cold and has similar symptoms. It may include:

• Facial pain
• Stuffy nose
• Running nose

It can last somewhere between 2 to 4 weeks.

• Subacute Sinusitis

It is similar to acute sinusitis, but it is a lot more severe as it begins after the 4^th week, if not treated, and can last up to 12 weeks.

• Chronic Sinusitis

It is what you call a permanent sinus and is often permanently untreatable. It is caused if the subacute sinus is not treated for 12 weeks or longer.

• Recurrent Sinusitis

It is a lifetime issue and can happen several times a year.

What are the Symptoms of Sinusitis?

Many people around the world get sinusitis, which they think of as the common cold. His initial symptoms of sinusitis are:

• Swelling on the inside of the nose
• Common cold
• Blockage in the drainage ducts
• Nasal polyps
• Deficiencies in the immune system

For younger ones, like children, the symptoms and reasons could be a lot different:

• Allergies
• Illnesses from other kids
• Unhygienic Pacifiers
• Drinking while lying on the back

Treatment you can get

• If you have a simple sinus infection, then your ENT doctor may recommend a decongestant for up to 3 days, along with saline nasal washes to open up the nose.
• Another approach is the use of antibiotics. They are taken in the course of 10 to 14 days, and the symptoms disappear as the treatment progresses.
• A home remedy is to inhale warm or moist air.
• Vaporizers, when used with steam also prove to be beneficial.
• For severe conditions your ENT specialist may prescribe steroids along with antibiotics.

How to Prevent Sinusitis?

To keep yourself safe from sinusitis one can adhere to the following suggestions:

• Avoid smoking ; active and passive smoking
• Wash your hands more often
• Stay away from allergic things

These are the basic precautions that have proven to be effective. In case, sinus issues keep coming back, then you must consult an ENT specialist to get proper medical treatment.

What Happens if you Leave Sinusitis Untreated?

In the long run, it can cause:

• Discomfort
• Head Aches
• Fevers
• Breathing Problems

Moreover, long term sinusitis can lead to ’Meningitis’, which is an infection of the bones.