Sinusitis is a common sinus infection. It happens when nasal passages block due to infection caused by bacteria, cold, allergies, or abnormal growth. Headaches and a stuffy nose are the major sinus symptoms and can be treated. Treatment for sinusitis will depend of the cause.
People who have nasal allergies are prone to colds, usually have a stuffy nose, or suffer from headaches. Many times these could be symptoms of sinusitis – a sinus infection that affects a large number of people yearly. The pain or headaches in a sinus infection could spread to the forehead, the cheekbones and the behind the eye area. Many over the counter medicines may help alleviate these sinus symptoms; other times it is necessary for a person to visit his/her doctor for further treatment. If the person is prone to these infections, a doctor may prescribe other medications as prevention treatment.
What is an Infection of the Sinuses?
The symptoms and signs of a sinusitis problem are the result of an infection of the sinuses; the swelling of the area is caused by bacteria located in the sinus cavities. These cavities or sinuses need to be free of blockage for air and mucus to pass through. In the event that the sinuses are blocked, the result is a headache, usually due to the pressure in the blocked sinuses.
To alleviate the pain caused by the swollen sinuses, a nasal spray is often prescribed, but there are also over the counter nasal sprays to treat this symptom. The nasal spray reduces the swelling and opens the nasal cavities so air can go through. Once the nasal cavities or sinuses are open, the pressure and pain are relieved.
What causes Sinusitis?
Sinusitis may be caused by many different things. The main issue is when the nasal cavities are blocked. This could be due to a tumor or a growth. In this case, surgical intervention may be required to remove it and open the nasal passages. Sometimes, the excessive use of nasal sprays may cause sinusitis. The use of drugs that are inhaled, such as Cocaine or other illegal drugs are also cause for nasal infections.
Bacteria that accumulate in blocked passages may also be responsible for sinus infections. Sometimes smoke, a dry environment, and other issues may damage the cilia – the small nose hairs inside the nasal passages that are responsible for helping move mucus out. The result is an accumulation of mucus, which is fertile ground for bacteria to grow, causing an infection of the sinuses. Severe nasal allergies, especially if not treated, may also contribute to a sinus infection.
Most Common Symptoms
The most common symptoms are headache, tenderness in the facial area, swollen nose cavities, and in some cases, fever, caused by the infection. Other symptoms include green/yellow nasal discharge, cough, and sore throat.
A physician may check for swelling and tenderness of the nose, facial areas, and around the eyes by gently tapping the area to see if a person has pain. Inflamed or raw nasal passages are also another symptom. Other times, excessive sinusitis might require other tests such as CT scan or MRI if there is the need for more information for proper diagnosis, as there might be other issues that are causing the sinus infection.
Treatment for a Sinus Infection
Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe over the counter drugs, or antibiotics. These may include drugs like acetaminophen (Tylenol) to help with fever and headaches. Antibiotics will take a course of ten to fourteen days for complete treatment. In the case of a chronic infection, additional antibiotics may be prescribed for a duration of 21 days. Depending on the response to treatment, the doctor will decide if there is need to prolong the treatment with more medication or in extreme cases, to drain the area. Draining of the sinuses involves surgical intervention and will require a hospital stay.
In some fewer cases, patients that suffer from chronic sinusitis will have other complications. This may involve the spread of the infection to areas such as the brain. In this serious situation, the infection will allocate itself in the brain and cause death. Although this scenario does not happen often, it has happened – sinus infections should be treated seriously and not avoid going to the doctor for treatment, especially when over the counter remedies do not seem to treat the condition. Prolonging this condition can cause complications, sometimes fatal.
Sinusitis is easily treatable and treatment should be pursued in a timely and effective way. The sooner the condition is treated, the faster treatment will work. If a person suffers from recurrent sinusitis, then it becomes important to see what is causing the problem, as some allergies or environmental issues could cause it. Once the culprit is identified, it will be easier to prevent its recurrence. Sometimes, seasonal changes bring with them some allergies, in either the spring or the fall. This may affect individual differently; some may experience minor symptoms of allergy, easily alleviated with over the counter drugs, while others can experience heavy allergic reactions and symptoms that refuse to go away with over the counter remedies. Taking care of a sinus condition is important so it does not progress to something more complicated.