Sinusitis

Overview

Sinus infection (Sinusitis), simply put, is the inflammation of the sinus lining. The sinuses are the hollow spaces in the bones of the face; they are found within the bones between the eyes, behind the cheekbones, and on the forehead. They are lined by mucous membrane tissues, which produce mucus that wet those cavities. They also help to moisten the inhaled air and act as a barrier against dust, allergens, and other irritants/pollutants.

Sinus infection (Sinusitis) is caused when the tissues become inflamed, and various factors can trigger this; examples include bacteria, allergens, viruses, and fungi. 

Types of Sinusitis

There are two main types of sinusitis, and they are acute and chronic sinusitis.

Acute sinusitis only lasts for a short time; that is, it can last from a day to less than four weeks. This infection is usually part of influenza or another respiratory illness (bacteria, allergic reactions). Complications of acute sinusitis are not common, and they usually resolve on their own without much medical treatment. Some people are more likely than others to get acute sinusitis; the predisposing factors include

• People with allergies.
• Smokers are also at risk.
• People with structural defects in their nose, for example, a deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps, etc.
• People in crowded spaces where infection can be transmitted, examples which include schools, churches, etc.

Chronic sinusitis lasts more than 12 weeks or may continue to reoccur; it can be brought on by infections, polyps, or constantly reoccurring acute sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis may also be called chronic rhinosinusitis. Some of the main symptoms seen in chronic sinusitis include runny nasal discharges, which may be thick or thin, colorless or discolored, post-nasal drip, nasal congestion, pressure and pain, and swelling around your sinus cavities. Chronic sinusitis symptoms last for a long time (up to 12 weeks), and that differentiates it from acute sinusitis. Fever isn’t a common symptom in chronic sinusitis but may be seen in acute sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis requires medical intervention and does not usually stop on its own.

Causes of Sinus infection (Sinusitis)

Sinusitis can be caused by various agents, including viruses, bacteria, allergens, or fungi which swell up and causes a blockage of the sinuses.

Viruses– These are the most common cause of sinusitis. The flu virus is always implicated in viral sinusitis. The symptoms usually subside after a few days and are not usually too severe. They usually do not require medication and are usually handled by a lot of rest and vitamins. The symptoms include congestion, headache, low fever, discharges, and general discomfort. If the sinusitis does not subside after a few days, it may indicate that it is or has degenerated into a bacterial infection.

Bacteria– These are less common than viral sinusitis. Some viral sinusitis can devolve into bacterial sinusitis; this occurs when bacteria replicate in the fluid-filled sinus cavities and causes a further infection. This may resolve on its own or may require antibiotics. The usual signs that your viral sinusitis has turned into a bacterial one are usually worsening symptoms or failure to get better after a few days. Bacterial sinusitis can also reoccur shortly after your sinusitis symptoms have disappeared.

Allergens– This can play a role in chronic or seasonal sinusitis episodes. Nasal and sinus passages swell up and become congested and inflamed in an attempt to flush out the offending inhaled particles that triggered the allergic reaction. Pollen, molds, dust, mites, and pet fur can cause the symptoms of sinusitis all year round. Asthma has been linked to chronic sinusitis. Appropriate treatment of sinusitis may also improve asthma symptoms.

Fungus– They can also be implicated in sinusitis. Some fungus types can cause serious health problems and even death. Immunocompromised people, such as those with diabetes, leukemia, etc., are more at risk of this type of sinus infection. The treatment may include surgery or antifungal medication. Healthy people are not usually predisposed to this type of sinusitis and may not require treatment in the cases where they are infected as it usually subsides on its own. If left untreated in immunocompromised individuals, fungal sinusitis may destroy the lining of the nose and spread to the brain, which may lead to death.

Symptoms of Sinus infection (Sinusitis)

The symptoms of sinusitis may vary based on the causative agent, whether the infection is acute or chronic, and which of the sinus cavities are affected. However, the main symptoms seen in sinusitis include nasal congestion, runny or stuffed nose, pain or pressure felt in the sinusoidal areas, and headaches. Some other symptoms which may depend on the affected sinus include sore throat, sneezing, swelling of the face, fever, dizziness, tinnitus, and loss of sense of taste or smell.

Treatment of Sinus infection (Sinusitis)

 There are various ways of treating sinusitis; they may be home remedies or prescription medications from a physician. 

Home remedies

 Some home remedies which may help in sinusitis include

• Drinking plenty of water– This may help to flush the virus out of your system. Drinking at least two liters of water in a day keeps you hydrated and may help in resolving mild sinusitis.
• Eating healthy food – Eating healthy balanced diets help in improving your immune system, which in turn helps in resolving viral sinusitis. Also, some food materials have antibiotic and anti-viral qualities; some of them include onions, garlic, and ginger, among others. They all have good antibacterial properties. Drinking ginger, garlic, and lime tea also help in treating sinusitis and clearing up your airways.
• Steaming – This involves letting the steam from boiled water wet your nasal passages and relieve congestion. This is done by heating water till it’s boiling, then putting it into a bowl. Then the bowl and head are covered by a thick towel, and the nose is kept 10 inches above the water and inhaled the steam from the water. Warm or hot baths can also be a form of steaming, as the damp air can help relieve congestion.
• Warm compresses – This is done by applying warm, moist heat around the head in order to ease pain and pressure around the sinuses. This is done by placing warm and damp towels around the nose, cheeks, and eyes. This practice may also help in clearing blocked nasal passages.

Medication

Treatment for Sinus infection (Sinusitis) may achieve better results if addressed according to the causative agent and not necessarily symptomatic. For example, sinusitis due to allergens may not respond to treatment targeted toward nasal congestion alone. Sinusitis that lasts up to ten days despite various home remedies applied would need to be reported to a physician who would then carry out some tests and offer a proper diagnosis. Often the most common treatment for Sinus infection (Sinusitis) is the one targeted at the different symptoms that the individual is experiencing.

With proper diagnosis, the physician may prescribe antibiotics to handle bacterial sinusitis or antifungals to treat fungal sinusitis or may prescribe antihistamines for allergic sinusitis. The physician may also advise the individual to avoid the allergy triggers to avoid the reoccurrence of the episodes. Sometimes symptomatic treatment is adopted in order to handle distressing symptoms. For example, painkillers like paracetamol may help to handle pains and headaches, nasal decongestants like menthol may decrease the quantity of mucus in the sinus and clear up the nasal passages. Steroids may also be prescribed to bring down swellings in the sinus membranes. The steroids may be ingested orally in severe chronic sinusitis. Surgery may be the best option as a last resort in cases of chronic sinusitis or reoccurring acute sinusitis. The surgeon may widen the sinus passages or remove blockages which will make the sinuses easier to drain.

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