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Sinusitis  symptoms start out with the normal cold that progress into a more severe condition, which ends up inflaming the sinus cavities. The inflammation is brought about by various factors, such as allergens, infection, or abnormal growths (nasal polyps). Sinus infections should be managed and treated urgently as these may cause complications and develop into other disorders or diseases affecting the brain. Learning more about this condition can help those who suffer from sinusitis better take care of themselves.

Sinuses: What are they and how do they work?

A sinus refers to void cavities located in the skull. It is connected to the nose’s airway through the ostium, a constricted hole in the bone. These are located in the following areas of the head:

1. Behind the cheeks – maxillary sinus
2. In between the eyes – ethmoid sinuses
3. Behind and within the ethmoid’s depth – sphenoid sinus
4. In the forehead – frontal sinus

All the four sinuses work together by:

1. Amplifying the tone of a person’s voice
2. Buffering trauma to the face
3. Humidifying and warming air inhaled by a person
4. Insulating the structures that surround the nerves of the eyes

Causes of sinusitis

There are different factors that may cause sinusitis. Listed below are the common causes of acute or chronic sinusitis:

1. Allergies – this is a condition where the body identifies and negatively reacts to an allergen, which results to the inflammation of the nasal passages. This is very familiar to people diagnosed with allergic rhinitis. Allergies can progress to acute sinusitis.
2. A deviated nasal septum – this condition occurs when a person’s septum is crooked and obstructs sinus passages.
3. Complications from other diseases – this can happen when there are complications from pre-existing conditions, like HIV, cystic fibrosis or other diseases affecting the immune system that ends up obstructing the nasal passages and sinuses.
4. Infection caused by bacteria – this is a condition that occurs when bacteria contaminates the nasal cavities  and passages’ linings causing it to become inflamed.
5. Infection caused by fungus – this condition is rare and is usually triggered by underlying conditions that cause the immune system to be compromised. These conditions include diseases like diabetes, immunodeficiencies, leukemia, etc.
6. Infections in the respiratory tract –this condition happens when a person develops colds caused by a bacteris, virus, or fungus.
7. Nasal polyps – this condition is identified by the abnormal growth of tissues in the passages of the nose or in the sinus cavity.

Types and duration of sinusitis

Generally, there are four types of sinusitis. They are:

1. Acute sinusitis – can last from two (2) to four (4) weeks
2. Chronic sinusitis – can last for at least 12 weeks or longer
3. Recurrent sinusitis – can happen at different times and quite a lot of times in a year
4. Subacute sinusitis – can last from four (4) to 12 weeks

Symptoms of sinusitis

As mentioned sinusitis usually start as a common cold. As it worsens, sinusitis may be identified through the following symptoms:

• Bad breath
• Congestion
• Cough
• Dental pain
• Existence of pus in the nasal cavity
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Loss of ability to smell
• Pain or pressure in the face
• Runny or stuffy nose

Diagnosing sinusitis

Because the symptoms of sinusitis are similar to other body ailments, the best way to diagnose if you have one is to consult with a doctor. If your doctor suspects that your symptoms are indeed those of sinusitis, then he or she may recommend you to undergo a nasoendocopy test. Additional tests may also be required, such as a CT scan.

Sinusitis complications

When left untreated, chronic sinusitis can cause complications in the other parts of the body, specifically the brain, eyes, and spinal cord. Sinus infections can worsen and cause meningitis, a disease that leads to the swelling of the brain and spinal cord membranes and fluids. A person’s vision may also be affected and can lead to permanent vision loss if the infection severely spreads into a person’s eye socket.

Treatments for sinusitis

The good news is there are several treatments available for sinusitis, depending on a patient’s condition. For mild ones, nasal wash done together with nasal sprays will most likely do the trick. In other cases, antibiotics may also be prescribed. For sinusitis that remains stubborn despite the use of initial treatments, an appropriate therapy using specific antibiotics may be required once the bacteria or fungus that is causing the condition is singled out following a swab of the sinuses.

Severe cases of sinusitis can be addressed by a procedure called balloon sinuplasty. This method is done by using an endoscopic device that is inserted into the blocked sinuses to dislodge the congestion.

Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) is the treatment for swollen sinuses caused by the abnormal growth of nasal polyps. This procedure is quick and is done as an outpatient procedure.