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Ever so often I would ask a patient about their medical history or about allergies, and the response would be, \u201cOh, I does get sinus oui doc.\u201d\u00a0 I realize what they mean is that they have allergies which affect their sinuses (which everybody has) or that their sinuses sometimes act up, as in ACUTE SINUSITIS, which is what we\u2019ll talk a bit about today.<\/p>\n
OVERVIEW<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve had a cold that lasts longer that a week, still have trouble breathing through your nose, have a throbbing pain in your face when you lean forward, then you may not have just a cold anymore, but sinusitis, an infection of the sinus cavities.<\/p>\n
Not everyone with a cold develops this, but colds are the most common cause of acute sinusitis.<\/p>\n
Sinuses are air-filled, hollow spaces within the facial bones surrounding your nose.\u00a0 When their linings become infected, usually by bacteria or viruses, they may swell and cause an obstruction and interfere with the normal drainage of mucus.\u00a0 Sinusitis can cause much discomfort, and can lead to more serious infections if left untreated.\u00a0 It can become chronic, but most cases don\u2019t, and treatment lasts about two weeks.\u00a0 Just for information, you have frontal, maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses, one on each side of your face, and they each have an opening through which mucus from them drains into the nasal passage.<\/p>\n
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS<\/p>\n
Acute sinusitis gives symptoms and signs which include:<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Congestion (stuffiness) that makes it difficult to breath through your nose
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pain, tenderness and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Headache
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fever
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sore throat (from postnasal drip)
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cough
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reduced sense of smell or taste.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tooth pain
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bad breath
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fatigue<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve had signs and symptoms for longer than a week, you may have sinusitis.<\/p>\n
CAUSES<\/p>\n
A viral, bacteria, or fungal infection of the air passages in the nose, sinuses, and throat \u2013 including, of course, the common cold virus \u2013 can lead to acute sinusitis.\u00a0 When a cold or any infection inflames and swells mucous membranes (the outermost smooth lining) in your nose, these swollen membranes obstruct the sinus openings and keep mucus from draining into the nose.\u00a0 As drainage becomes blocked, an environment is created in which bacteria and virus trapped in the mucus, can grow.\u00a0 The sinuses themselves are membrane-lined.\u00a0 These can also swell enough to obstruct their own opening into the nose.<\/p>\n
Other conditions may cause you to develop sinus obstructions and make you more likely to get sinusitis.\u00a0 These include:<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Allergies.\u00a0 No big surprise here.\u00a0 The inflammation they cause may block your sinuses.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Deviated nasal septum.\u00a0 In this case, the wall between the nostrils is crooked (usually from birth). This may restrict or block sinus passages, setting up an environment for infections.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nasal polyps.\u00a0 These are abnormal growths of tissue within the nasal passages; they slow drainage and allow infections to grow.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Other medical conditions.\u00a0 People with cystic fibrosis, a disease which causes mucus to be abnormally thick and stagnant, HIV-positive and other immune-deficient patients, are more likely to develop sinusitis.<\/p>\n
Smoking and exposure to air pollution can cause further irritation or inflammation, leading to blockage associated with sinusitis.<\/p>\n
WHEN TO SEE DOC<\/p>\n
You can self-treat mild symptoms.\u00a0 If no improvement in a few days, time to come in, and especially if you have the following:<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fever greater than 100.5 F
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Severe headache
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Stiff neck
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Confusion
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pain, swelling or redness on your face or around your eyes.<\/p>\n
DIAGNOSIS<\/p>\n
The doc will ask if you\u2019ve had a recent cold, whether you smoke or have allergies.\u00a0 We\u2019ve already talked about the role of these.<\/p>\n
On examination, he will feel for tenderness in your sinus areas and examine your nasal passages for inflammation, secretions or deformities.\u00a0 A thin tube with a light may be used to look up you nasal passages to detect things like nasal polyps.\u00a0 A small sample of material on a swab like a Q-tip may be taken from inside your nose to determine at the lab which, if any, bacteria or fungus, is contributing. CAT scans and MRI\u2019s may sometimes be used to diagnose sinusitis.
\nCOMPLICATIONS<\/p>\n
Sinusitis can aggravate asthma.\u00a0 If you have the latter and develop the former, see your doc.<\/p>\n
Serious complications are rare but may threaten your life if infection spreads beyond your sinuses.\u00a0 You may develop:<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Meningitis.\u00a0 Infection may spread to the bones of your eyes or to the membrane lining your brain (meninges), causing brain damage.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Visual problems. Reduced vision or even blindness can result if the infection spreads to your eye sockets.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Blood vessel complications.\u00a0 Infection spreading to the veins around your sinuses can cause aneurysms (weakening of the blood vessel wall at certain points) and blood clots that interfere with the blood supply to your brain.<\/p>\n
TREATMENT<\/p>\n
Most will get better without antibiotics.\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t had sinusitis before, over the counter decongestants and pain relievers may help.\u00a0 If they don\u2019t, see the doctor.<\/p>\n
You may get an antibiotic for 10 to 14 days.\u00a0 Take it all.\u00a0 If symptoms persist, it could be extended or changed.<\/p>\n
Doctor may also recommend.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Treating any contributing underlying allergy.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Using prescription decongestants, nasal corticosteroid sprays or oral corticosteroid pills to relieve stuffiness.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Taking over-the-counter pain relievers.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Spraying a saline solution in your nose several times a day.<\/p>\n
PREVENTIVE MEASURES<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Minimize your risk of infections, like the cold.\u00a0 Minimize contact with people who have it and\/or wash hands often with soap and water.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t smoke.\u00a0 We\u2019ve talked about this.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Avoid polluted air.\u00a0 Indoor or outdoor contaminants can irritate and inflame your lungs and nasal passages.<\/p>\n
SELF \u2013 CARE MEASURES<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Steam your sinuses.\u00a0 Inhale steam several times a day to stimulate sinus drainage.\u00a0 You may add something mentholated like Vicks, if you like.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Apply warm compresses around your nose, cheeks and eyes to ease facial pain.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drink lots of fluids to dilute secretions and promote drainage.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t drink alcohol.\u00a0 Here we go again!!\u00a0 It can worsen the swelling of the sinus and nose linings.<\/p>\n
See you next week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ever so often I would ask a patient about their medical history or about allergies, and the response would be, \u201cOh, I does get sinus oui doc.\u201d\u00a0 I realize what they mean is that they have allergies which affect their…","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","category-health-talk"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n