HEALTH: SINUS INFECTION (SINUSITIS) SYMPTOMS & TREATMENT Common Cold>>
What is Sinus Infection (Sinusitis)?
Sinusitis is infection or inflammation of the lining of the sinus cavities. These are hollow spaces in your
cheeks and around your eyes. Sinus infection often follows a cold and
cause pain and pressure in your head and face. Inflammation of the air
cavities within the passages of the nose (paranasal sinuses) is referred to as
sinusitis. Sinusitis is
one of the more common health conditions that can afflict people throughout their
lives.
Sinusitis commonly occurs when environmental pollens irritate the nasal
passages, such as with
hay fever. Sinusitis can also result from irritants, such as chemicals or the use and/or abuse
of over-the-counter nasal sprays and illegal substances that may be snorted through the
nose. Sinusitis can also be caused by infection (by viruses or
bacteria).
With acute sinusitis, the cavities around your nasal passages (sinuses) become inflamed and swollen. This interferes with drainage and causes mucus to build up. This common condition is also called acute rhinosinusitis.
With acute sinusitis, it may be difficult to breathe through your nose. The area around your eyes and face may feel swollen, and you may have throbbing facial pain or a headache. Acute sinus infection is usually defined as being of less than 30 days duration; subacute sinus infection as being over 1 month but less than 3 months. Treatment for acute sinusitis depends on the cause. In most cases, home remedies are all that's needed. However, persistent sinusitis can lead to serious infections and other complications. Sinusitis that lasts more than eight weeks, or keeps coming back, is known as chronic sinusitis. Each year, over 30 million adults and children get sinusitis.
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Also see: Emphysema Lung Cancer Bronchitis Asthma Allergies Pneumonia Common Cold Influenza/Flu Swine Flu
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Health: Causes of Sinus Infection (Sinusitis - Sinus)
Sinus infection may be caused by anything that interferes with airflow into the sinuses and the drainage of mucous out of the sinuses. The sinus openings may be obstructed by anything which causes swelling of the tissue lining and adjacent nasal passage tissue.
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 organisms (they are sterile) and are open, allowing mucus to
drain and air to circulate.
When you have sinusitis, the mucous membranes of your nose, sinuses and throat (upper respiratory tract) become inflamed. Swelling obstructs the sinus openings and prevents mucus from draining normally, causing facial pain and other sinusitis symptoms.
A blocked sinus creates a moist environment that makes it easier for infection to take hold, and becomes a great breeding ground for bacteria and other organisms. A sinus that becomes infected and can't drain, becomes pus filled, leading to symptoms such as thick, yellow or greenish discharge and other symptoms of infection.
Acute sinusitis can be caused by three things:
- Viral infection. Most cases of acute sinusitis are caused by the common cold.
- Bacterial infection. When an upper respiratory tract infection persists longer than seven to 10 days, it's more likely to be caused by a bacterial infection than by a viral infection.
- Fungal infection. You're at increased health risk of a fungal infection if you have sinus abnormalities or a weakened immune system.
The same viruses that cause the common cold cause most cases of sinusitis.
When the lining of the sinus cavities gets inflamed from a viral infection like a cold, it swells. This is viral sinusitis. The swelling can block the normal drainage of fluid from the sinuses into the nose and throat. If the fluid cannot drain and builds up over time, bacteria or fungi (plural of fungus) may start to grow in it. These bacterial or fungal infections can cause more swelling and pain. They are more likely to last longer, get worse with time, and become chronic.
The mucous producing cells have small hairlike fibers, called cilia, which move back and forth to help the mucous move out of the sinuses. These small cilia may be damaged by many irritants, especially smoke, which then prevents them from assisting the mucous from draining from the sinuses. Cystic fibrosis is one of a number of diseases that prevent the cilia from working properly. Other such diseases that put you at increased risk for sinusitis include Kartagener syndrome and immotile cilia syndrome.
Nasal allergies or other problems that block the nasal passages and allow fluid to build up in the sinuses can also lead to sinusitis.
Health: Risk Factors of Sinus Infection (Sinusitis - Sinus)
You're at increased health risk of getting sinusitis if you have:
- Hay fever or another allergic condition that affects your sinuses.
- A nasal passage abnormality, such as a deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps or tumors.
- A health condition such as cystic fibrosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or an immune system disorder such as immunoglobulin or antibody deficiency.
- Regular exposure to pollutants such as cigarette smoke.
- Allergies such as hay fever. Inflammation that occurs with allergies may block your sinuses.
- Nasal polyps or tumors. These tissue growths may block the nasal passages or sinuses.
- Deviated nasal septum. A crooked septum — the wall between the nostrils — may restrict or block sinus passages.
- Tooth infection. A small number of cases of acute sinusitis are caused by an infected tooth.
- Enlarged or infected adenoids in children. Adenoids are located in the upper back part of the throat.
- Other health conditions. The complications of cystic fibrosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or immune system disorders may result in blocked sinuses or an increased risk of infection.
The following may also increase your health risk for developing sinusitis:
- Air pollution and smoke
- Asthma
- Changes in altitude (flying or scuba diving)
- Dental work
- Frequent swimming or diving
- Hospitalization, especially if you are in the hospital because of a head injury or have had a tube placed into your nose (nasogastric tube)
- Overuse of nasal decongestants
- Pregnancy
NATURAL CURE FOR SINUSITIS
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Health: Symptoms of Sinus Infection (Sinusitis - Sinus)
The main symptoms of sinusitis are a runny or stuffy nose and pain and pressure in your head and face. You may also have a yellow or green drainage or drip from your nose or down the back of your throat (postnasal discharge). Where you feel the pain and tenderness depends on which sinus is affected.
The classic symptoms of acute sinusitis usually follow a cold that does not improve, or one that worsens after 5 - 7 days of symptoms.
Acute sinusitis symptoms often include:
- Postnasal drip (drainage of a thick, yellow or greenish discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat)
- Nasal obstruction or congestion, causing difficulty breathing through your nose
- Pain, tenderness, swelling and pressure around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead
- Aching in your upper jaw and teeth
- Reduced sense of smell and taste
- Cough, often worse at night
- Fatigue and generally not feeling well
- Fever
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Nausea
- Pain in the ear
Complications of sinus infection are:
- Asthma flare-ups. Acute sinusitis can trigger an asthma attack.
- Chronic sinusitis. Acute sinusitis may be a flare-up of a long-term problem known as chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis is sinusitis that lasts longer than eight weeks.
- Meningitis. This occurs when infection spreads to the lining of the brain.
- Vision problems. If infection spreads to your eye socket, it can cause reduced vision or even blindness. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent potentially permanent damage.
- Aneurysms or blood clots. Infection can cause problems in the veins surrounding the sinuses, interfering with blood supply to your brain and putting you at health risk of a stroke.
- Ear infection. Acute sinusitis may occur along with an ear infection.
Health: Diagnosis and Tests of Sinus Infection (Sinusitis - Sinus)
Sinus infection is most often diagnosed based on a history and examination made by your doctor.
Your doctor will test for sinusitis by:
- Shining a light against the sinus (transillumination) for signs of inflammation.
- Tapping over a sinus area to find infection.
Your doctor may use several methods to help screen for acute sinusitis:
- Nasal endoscopy. A thin, flexible tube (endoscope) with a fiber-optic light inserted through your nose allows your doctor to visually inspect the inside of your sinuses.
- Imaging studies. Images taken using computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can show details of your sinuses and nasal area. These may identify a deep inflammation or physical obstruction that's difficult to detect using an endoscope.
- Nasal and sinus cultures. Laboratory tests are generally unnecessary for diagnosing acute sinusitis. However, in cases in which the condition fails to respond to treatment or is progressing, tissue cultures may help pinpoint the cause, such as identifying a bacterial cause.
- An allergy test. If your doctor suspects that the condition may be brought on by allergies, an allergy skin test may be recommended. A skin test is safe and quick, and can help pinpoint the allergen that's responsible for your nasal flare-ups.
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HOME REMEDIES FOR SINUS INFECTION THAT WORKS
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Health: Treatment for Sinus Infection (Sinusitis - Sinus)
For sinusitis caused by virus infection, no antibiotic treatment is required. Frequently recommended treatment include pain and fever medications (such as acetaminophen/Tylenol) and decongestants. Bacterial infection of the sinuses is suspected when facial pain, pus nasal discharge and symptoms persist for longer than a week and are not responding to over-the-counter nasal medications. Acute sinus infection from bacteria is usually treated with antibiotic therapy aimed at treating the most common bacteria known to cause sinus infection, since it is unusual to be able to get a reliable culture without aspirating the sinuses.
The treatment of chronic forms of sinus infection require longer courses of drugs such as Augmentin and may require a sinus drainage procedure. This drainage typically requires a surgical operation to open the blocked sinus under general anesthesia.
Most cases of acute sinusitis don't need treatment because they are caused by cold viruses. Self-care techniques are usually the only treatment needed to speed recovery and ease symptoms.Viral sinus infections usually go away on their own within 10 to 14 days. Antibiotics don't work for viral infections. But there are some things you can do at home to help relieve your symptoms:
- Drink plenty of fluids to thin the mucus.
- Try over-the-counter pain relievers and decongestant pills to help relieve the pain and pressure in your head and face.
- Apply a warm, moist washcloth or gel pack on your face for 5 to 10 minutes at a time, several times a day.
- Inhale steam 2 - 4 times per day from a steamy shower, a hot bath, or a sink filled with hot water.
- Spray with nasal saline several times per day, to help keep the nasal passages open and wash out mucus and bacteria.
- Use a humidifier.
- Sleep with your head elevated. This will help your sinuses drain, reducing congestion.
- Get plenty of rest. This will help your body fight infection and speed recovery.
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.
- Try acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Home treatment may help drain mucus from the sinuses and prevent a more serious bacterial or fungal infection. If self-care measures are not working, your doctor will consider prescription medications, antibiotics, further testing, or referral to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.
Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. You will probably feel better in a few days, but some symptoms may last for several weeks. You may need to take the medicine for a longer time if you have chronic sinusitis.
If you have a fungal infection—which is not common—antibiotics won't clear up your sinusitis. With this type of infection, you may need treatment with antifungal medicines, steroid medicines or surgery.
If you have taken antibiotics and other medicines for a long time but still have sinusitis symptoms, you may need surgery. You may also need surgery if the infection is likely to spread or if you have other problems, such as a growth (polyp) blocking the nasal passage.
Your doctor may recommend treatment to help relieve sinusitis symptoms, as following:
- Saline nasal spray, which you spray into your nose several times a day to rinse your nasal passages.
- Nasal corticosteroids. These nasal sprays help prevent and treat inflammation. Examples include fluticasone (Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), budesonide (Rhinocort Aqua), triamcinolone (Nasacort AQ) and beclomethasone (Beconase AQ).
- Decongestants. These medications are available in over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription liquids, tablets and nasal sprays. OTC oral decongestants include Sudafed, Actifed and Drixoral. Nasal sprays include phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) and oxymetazoline (Afrin). These medications are generally taken for only a few days at most. Otherwise they can cause the return of more severe congestion (rebound congestion).
- Over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Because of the risk of Reye's syndrome — a potentially life-threatening illness — never give aspirin to children.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics usually aren't needed to treat acute sinusitis.
- Antibiotics won't help when acute sinusitis is caused by a viral or fungal infection.
- Most cases of bacterial sinusitis improve without antibiotics.
- Antibiotic treatment is generally needed only if you have a severe, recurrent or persistent bacterial infection.
Antibiotics used to treat acute sinusitis caused by a bacterial infection include amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, others), doxycycline (Doryx, Monodox, others) or the combination drug trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, others). If the infection doesn't go away or if the sinusitis comes back, your doctor may try a different antibiotic.
If your doctor does prescribe antibiotics, it's critical to take the entire course of medication. Generally, this means you'll need to take them for 10 to 14 days — even after your symptoms get better. If you stop taking them early, your symptoms may come back.
Antifungal medications - Rarely, acute sinusitis is caused by a fungal infection. You may need an intravenous (IV) medication such as amphotericin B or voriconazole. The dose of medication — as well as how long you'll need to take it — depends on the severity of your infection and how quickly your symptoms improve.
Immunotherapy - If allergies are contributing to your sinusitis, allergy shots
(immunotherapy) that help reduce the body's reaction to specific
allergens may help treat your symptoms.
Surgery - Surgery to clean and drain the sinuses may also be necessary, especially in patients with recurrent episodes of inflammation despite medical treatment. An ENT specialist, also known as an otolaryngologist, can perform this surgery.
Most fungal sinus infections require surgery. Surgical repair of a deviated septum or nasal polyps may prevent recurrence.
Health: Prevention of Sinus Infection (Sinusitis - Sinus)
The best way to prevent sinusitis is to avoid or quickly treat flu 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.
- 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.
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Sources: NIH News In Health/National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine/Dept of Health and Human Services_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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