Chronic sinusitis disease occurs when swelling and irritation persist for three months or longer despite treatment in the nose and inside the head. In short, chronic sinusitis is a prolonged sinus infection. There are four pairs of cavities in the sinus head. These spaces are connected through tight channels. The sinuses create a thin mucus that comes out of these nasal channels. This drainage works as a filtration system, which keeps the nose clean and free of bacteria.
Sinuses can become infected when they are full and blocked, this is called sinusitis. There are two types of sinusitis:
Acute
Chronic
Acute or acute sinusitis is cured within a few days with less treatment. Chronic sinusitis can last for a long time (usually beyond 12 weeks). Severe cases of chronic sinusitis may require sinus surgery several times.
Causes Of Chronic Sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis can occur for several reasons, including:
Blockage of airways from asthma or allergies
Infection
Fungus
Deviated nasal septum
Polyps
Weak immune system
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Symptoms Of Chronic Sinusitis
Common symptoms of chronic sinusitis are:
Nasal inflammation
Smell and sense of taste decrease
Nasal obstruction or congestion, which causes difficulty in breathing through the nose
Tenderness or pressure on the face (especially on the nose, eyes, and forehead)
Nasal dripping (dripping mucus down the throat)
Runny nose (yellow or green discharge from nose)
Nose filling
Teeth pain
Headache
Cough
Exhaustion
Pain In Ear
The symptoms and signs of chronic and acute sinusitis may be similar, but acute sinusitis is a temporary infection of the sinus. Symptoms of chronic sinusitis can be seen for up to twelve weeks.
When To Contact A Doctor?
If you have recurrent sinusitis and the treatment has no effect
If you see symptoms of sinusitis for more than ten days
Symptoms Are Not Improving Even After Fully Following The Doctor's Advice
See the doctor immediately in these situations:
Fever
Swelling or redness around the eyes
Severe headache
Restlessness
Change in eyesight
Stiff neck
In the case of nasal polyps, the development of tissue can block the nasal passages or sinuses.
In the case of a ruptured nasal membrane, the bent septum between the nasal walls can block the sinus passage, making the symptoms of sinusitis worse.
Other Medical Conditions- Complications of cystic fibrosis, HIV, and other immune system-related diseases can lead to nasal obstruction.
Infections in the respiratory system infections in your respiratory tract and the common cold can thicken your sinus membranes and block the drainage of mucus. These infections can be viral, bacterial, or fungal.
Allergies like Hay fever. Inflammation with allergies can stop your sinuses.
The Risk
The risk of chronic sinusitis may increase if you are going through the following problems:
Deviated septum
Nasal polyps
Asthma
Aspirin sensitivity
Tooth infection
Immunity disorders such as HIV / AIDS or cystic fibrosis
Fever or other allergies
Regular exposure to pollutants such as cigarette smoke
Complications
Complications are not uncommon in severe chronic sinusitis disease, but the following complications may occur:
Vision Problems: If you have a sinus infection it spreads to your eye socket and can cause low vision or blindness which can be permanent.
Infections: Sinusitis can cause inflammation of membranes and fluids due to brain and spinal cord (meningitis), bone infection, or severe skin infection.
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The Diagnosis
The methods of diagnosis of chronic sinusitis are as follows:
Imaging Tests: You can use CT or MRI for these images to get a complete idea about your sinus and nasal area. These may indicate inflammation or other problems that are difficult to detect using an endoscope.
Looking Inside The Sinus: A thin, flexible tube in which fiber-optic light will be inserted through the nose into your body so that it can be seen inside your sinus.
Allergy Test: If the doctor feels that your chronic sinusitis is being affected by an allergy, then you may be advised to take an allergy skin test. The skin test is safe and quick and effective.
Samples Of Nasal And Sinus Discharge (Culture): Cultures are generally not required for the diagnosis of chronic sinusitis. However, when the condition is worsening or there is no effect of treatment, your doctor will sample the mucus inside the nose to help identify the cause of bacteria or fungi.
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