What is sinusitis?

Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. The sinuses are air sacs within the facial bones around the nasal passage. These air sacs are lined with a membrane of the same structure as that lining the respiratory tract. The membrane has two characteristics. It produces mucus, a sticky substance that collects dust and pollutants. The mucus lies on the tips of vibrating hairs which move the mucus to an exit to be reflexly swallowed. The inflammation blocks the exit of the mucus causing the symptoms of sinusitis. Blockage, in turn, causes recurrent infection with viruses or bacteria.

Inflammation is a result of allergies, bacteria/viral infection, presence of the foreign body, injury, poor neurovascular control of the mucous membrane, and other unknown causes.

Acute and chronic sinusitis

There are two types of sinusitis. One is acute sinusitis and the other is chronic sinusitis.

Acute sinusitis is usually caused by viral/bacterial infection but can also be allergic. It lasts a few days to 3 weeks. The nasal discharge is usually discolored. It is responsive to antibiotics, antihistamines, decongestants, and nose drops.

Chronic sinusitis lasts 3 weeks to years. The discharge is clear or white. The cause is usually unknown. The diagnosis is thus syndromal rather than causal, diagnosed by the longstanding symptoms of stuffy nose, running nose and eyes, itchy/sore throat, cough, postnasal drip, and discomfort in speaking and eating (air swallowing). Good control of speaking and swallowing requires a clear nasal passage. The response to standard drug/medical/surgical treatment is poor. Chronic sinusitis can lead to permanent damage of the mucous membrane and infection elsewhere, such as the lungs or the brain

Sinusitis Symptoms

Chronic sinusitis symptoms are sometimes confused with acute sinusitis symptoms. What people fail to understand is that acute sinusitis is a temporary condition and is often associated with a cold. Acute sinusitis lasts maybe six to eight days and is more easily treated. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. Chronic sinusitis is the most common and is also long-term. It often lasts longer than eight weeks and is the most recurring sinus problem. Many people often wake up feeling like they can’t breathe through their nose, or with a feeling of stuffiness in their head not knowing that it may be the onset of sinus problems

Chronic sinusitis symptoms may start out as a low-grade pressure across the top of the nose. The individual may have a very bad chronic headache and their breath will more than likely have a bad odor to it. The area around the eyes and cheeks will feel sore and swollen. The pain sometimes worsens when the individual bends over even slightly. This chronic condition interferes with nasal drainage and causes a severe build-up of mucus in the nasal cavities. The mucus drainage may be a greenish or brownish color. Some more chronic sinusitis symptoms may be a very really bad ear or toothache when there are no other tooth or ear problems.

While individuals may think they just have a really bad sinus infection, they may actually have a case of chronic sinusitis If an individual has been having a cold and experiencing feelings of nausea, double vision, confusion, and fever that is lasting more than a couple of days, chances are they have a chronic sinus infection. While chronic sinusitis symptoms can be confused with allergies, chronic sinusitis is much more severe and can cause much more damage if not treated in a timely manner. Chronic sinusitis can cause the vessels in the nasal passages to weaken and rupture or blood clots to form. When any of the above symptoms are present, an infected sinus treatment plan should be started immediately.

Sinusitis Surgery And What It Can Do

Sinus infection is a common problem that affects millions of people annually, and most sinus infections are successfully treated by medications including natural plant extracts antibiotics, nasal spray, antihistamines, and flushing. However, some sinus sufferers require sinusitis surgery due to complications. Those patients who require surgery undergo further testing to check for underlying causes to ensure Endoscopic sinus surgery is necessary.

Some common tests that are done to rule out causes of sinus problems include computed tomography (CT) scan, nasal physiology, smell testing as well as a blood test. These types of testing help the surgeon determine his operative strategy as well.

After testing concludes and medication has proven unsuccessful, a physician may suggest doing an endoscope in the nasal passage. This is to see what is causing the sinus problem. While doing the endoscope, he will increase the sinus canals to facilitate better drainage, and the patient will have not have to undergo any invasive surgery as this will clear up the pain and discomforts.

Another procedure on the market today is the image-guided surgery procedure. It is used for severe sinus problems and is proven successful when prior surgery causes complications such as altered anatomical landmarks or when the sinus area is unusual. This new procedure let surgeons guide their surgical instrument with infrared signals, which provide precise contact of the affected area providing relief.

Caldwell Luc operation is another sinusitis surgery used to improve the maxillary sinus drainage system. It creates a window that connects the maxillary sinus and the nose together, which improves drainage. It is often done when a patient has malignancy in their sinus cavity.

Having sinus surgery is beneficial to the patient because it reduces the pain and symptoms. There are no external scars and the procedure is done on an outpatient basis in most cases. However, sinusitis surgery has its drawback, patients may have minimal swelling and mild discomfort, and it takes time to heal. These drawbacks are minor in comparison to invasive surgical procedures.

People with a sinus infection should know that sinusitis surgery today is not invasive as procedures done in the past, and they should discuss all options with their medical provider. We suggest you the best sinus specialist in Coimbatore