Sinusitis – What is it and How Can I Deal with it?

What is Sinus Infection?

The face has some hollow areas within and most of them are found on the nasal area. These spaces are called sinuses. As a filtering mechanism of the body, the sinuses have cilia (tiny hairs) and other defenses against dirt and germs. They also insulate the skull and the brain. However, when there is a disruption with its defenses, sinusitis may occur.
Sinus inflammation is the infection of the sinuses. Bacteria or viruses can enter the sinuses and, when they have bypassed the cilia and other defenses, they will stick to the lining cells and most likely start an infection. The illness usually affects the paranasal sinuses, which involve the gaps in the forehead, cheekbones, behind the eyes and between the eyes. In this article, you will learn about the duration and overview of symptoms of sinus infection

What are the symptoms and how long do they last?

Headache is the most common symptom of congested sinuses. When they are heavily clogged and infected, facial pain can be experienced. The pain worsens when the person lies down or bends over. This is because of the pressure applied to the delicate sinus lining. Facial pain is usually concentrated on the nose, eyes and cheek areas.
The infection can also be accompanied with cough, colds and fever. Because of hampered respiration and the build-up of nasal discharge, the person may also suffer from bad breath. There can also be thick nasal discharge which is green, sometimes accompanied with pus or blood.

Because sinuses are connected gaps in the head, the infection may also affect the ears. The congestion can also cause dizziness and perceived loss of balance. There can also be vibrating sensations in the head. Hence, general malaise is another symptom of the condition. The signs are very similar

The type of symptoms and the duration depends on the degree of acuteness of the infection. The infection is called “acute” if the symptoms last no more than 4 weeks, and “semi-acute” if the symptoms stay at least 4 weeks at most 8 weeks. The condition is called chronic if the symptoms last beyond 8 weeks and if the infection recurs more than 4 times within a year.

What are its causes?

Almost all people experience sinusitis at least once in their lives. The most common bacteria that cause chronic infections are the Haemophilus influenza and the Streptococcus pneumonia. Severe coughs, colds and similar infections can lead into infection of the sinuses too.
Some people are also predisposed to developing nasal infections because of the structure of their sinuses. There are people with deviated or narrow nasal cavities such as the septum, concha bullosa and sinus ostia. Some studies show that people who frequently experience the condition are likely to experience more similar infections. Subsequent infections make the nasal linings more irritable and vulnerable to virus or bacteria.

How can a person be diagnosed of the infection?

As mentioned, the symptoms are very similar to those of migraines. In fact, studies have shown that 90% of reported sinus infection cases are actually migraines. Bacterially and virally caused infections are also difficult to distinguish from each other. Generally, doctors consider it as viral if the symptoms last for less than 10 days. Otherwise, it is classified as bacterial, which is 30-50 percent of all cases in the US. The best method of sinusitis diagnosis is through an X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) scan.

How is sinus infection treated and prevented? : prevent sinus infection

Majority of cases can be cured with water therapy and without antibiotics. However, if the condition is identified to be bacterial, treatment is done with amoxicillin and other anti-bacterial drugs. Conservative treatment can also be done through nasal irrigation. With a use of an irrigation device, water is allowed to pass through the sinus in and out of the nostrils. The method aids in faster draining of the harmful elements in the facial sinuses.

A method of prevention of sinusitis is through the use humidifiers. The sinuses drain more efficiently when there is a fair amount of moisture in the atmosphere. By moistening the air in your house, temperature is also controlled and breathing becomes more comfortable. It is also advised to avoid pollution and smoking. Drinking liquor must also be avoided because alcohol makes the sinuses weaker against infections.