If you have persistent inflammation or swelling of the tissues that line your sinuses, you could have a condition called chronic sinusitis. Under normal circumstances, your sinuses are full of air, but when they get blocked and filled with fluid, viruses, bacteria, or fungi can accumulate there and lead to a sinus infection.
Causes and Concerns
Sinus blockages can be caused by a common cold or from swelling of the nasal linings due to allergic rhinitis. Other causes include small growths within the nasal passages (nasal polyps) or a deviation in the nasal cavity. Approximately 37 million U.S. citizens suffer from one or more attacks of sinusitis every year. There are various types of sinusitis including:
- Chronic Sinusitis – Symptoms persist for eight weeks or perhaps longer.
- Acute Sinusitis – Cold-like symptoms develop suddenly.
- Sub-acute Sinusitis – Sinus inflammation lasts from four to eight weeks.
- Recurrent Sinusitis – Several attacks of sinusitis occur during the course of a single year.
Symptoms and Signs
With the chronic form of sinusitis, you have persistence in the symptoms and signs of the condition. Infections and smoking most frequently contribute to chronic sinusitis episodes in adults. Also, environmental factors commonly lead to sinusitis in children. These include allergies, infectious illnesses, pacifiers, drinking from bottles while lying down, and second hand smoke. If you have been suffering from chronic sinusitis, your symptoms may linger for at least eight weeks. The common symptoms and signs include:
- Swelling of the mucous membranes of the nose
- Drainage that may be yellow or green
- Stuffy nose and nasal congestion
- Facial pain that is worse with bending
- Headaches
- Visual disturbances
- Loss of smell
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Bad breath
- Teeth pain or toothache
Solutions and Options
You should consult an allergy specialist if you have symptoms of chronic sinusitis. In order to determine if you have the condition, the allergy specialist will ask you to describe your symptoms, and he or she will perform a detailed physical examination. Test for diagnosing your sinusitis could include blood work, X-rays, mucosal cultures, allergy testing, CT scans of the sinuses and endoscopy.
The treatment of chronic sinusitis depends on the underlying cause. Determining and then addressing any contributing factors and potential triggers is a critical strategy in your chronic sinusitis management. To decrease your nasal congestion, your doctor may suggest prescription nasal sprays or oral decongestant medications. If you suffer from episodes of severe chronic sinusitis, oral steroids may be necessary to reduce your nasal inflammation. Other treatment options include antibiotic therapy, antihistamines, and surgery.
Home remedies for chronic sinusitis include:
- A vaporizer or humidifier (inhalation of steam or cool mist)
- Warm compresses (apply to your nose/sinuses to relieve pain)
- Nasal saline drops (relieve congestion)
- Increase fluid intake (drinking water thins nasal secretions)
- Non-prescription nasal decongestant sprays (use with caution)
Summary
Your doctor could strongly advise you to make certain lifestyle changes to alleviate your chronic sinusitis symptoms on an ongoing basis. Stop smoking if you suffer from chronic sinus problems and avoid symptom triggers. If you or someone you love has the symptoms of chronic sinusitis, you could have persistent allergies. Contact one of our caring allergy specialists for a consultation. The doctor can help you find a solution to your symptoms.