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Are you constantly ailed by cheek pain? Well, it could either be toothache or sinusitis. Do not ignore sinusitis as it could have long-term repercussions. Sinus is more likely to affect kids. If your child has cold and infection that lasts beyond a week, there is a possibility that he has sinus. The last decade has seen increased complaints of sinusitis due to increase in pollution and resistance to antibiotics.
Symptoms of Sinusitis
Sinusitis is the inflammation of the membrane lining of any sinus, especially one of the paranasal sinuses. Antibiotics and decongestants are effective in curing acute sinusitis whereas patients with chronic sinusitis have to go through at least four recurrences of acute sinusitis.
If you are greeted with headaches in the morning, it could be a typical symptom of sinusitis. Do you face pain when your forehead over the frontal sinuses is touched? It could indicate that your frontal sinuses are inflamed. Other symptoms of sinusitis are: weakness, fever, tiredness, nasal congestion and a cough that is more severe at nights. Remember that acute sinusitis could cause brain infection and other serious damages. Symptoms for ethmoid sinus infection include: swelling around the eyes, swollen eyelids, loss of smell and pain between the eyes. Symptoms for sphenoid sinus infection include: neck pain and earaches.
Note that the symptoms of sinusitis for younger children are less specific. They may complain of common cold that runs for 10 days or more. But, this cold could give them a sick appearance, with a high fever and a discolored discharge from the nose. You may suspect sinusitis if the child's condition does not improve with the usual doses of allergy medication.
Diagnosis of Sinusitis
Diagnosis of sinusitis is based on symptoms and the result of the physical exams. Transillumination is a test to diagnose sinusitis. It involves shining a bright light over your cheek in the dark room. If the light does not illuminate certain areas of your face, it is possible that you have a sinus infection. Diagnosis of sinusitis could also be done by testing your nasal discharge for the presence of bacteria. Patients with sinusitis could derive benefits from nasal culture. But, nasal culture is not prescribed for patients with acute sinusitis. CT scans are also carried out to diagnose chronic sinusitis.
Ultrasound is effective in the diagnosis of maxillary sinusitis. Remember that ultrasound makes use of high frequency sound waves. If you are confused about the diagnosis of sinusitis, you may ask your physician to perform a sinus puncture. The procedure of sinus puncture involves the use of a needle to remove a bit of fluid from your sinuses. The fluid is then tested in the laboratory to identify the infecting bacteria and determine the suitable type of antibiotic for treatment. Nasal endoscopy involves the use of a flexible tube with a fiberoptic light at the end. Nasal endoscopy permits visual examination of the sinus drainage areas. This procedure enables physicians to observe signs of obstruction as well as detect nasal polyp hidden from the nasal examination.
Treatment of Sinusitis
Physicians may prescribe nose drops, nasal sprays or oral decongestants for the treatment of sinusitis. In order to determine the best treatment option for sinusitis, the physician should assess the patient's history and symptoms and then carry out a structured physical examination. If you have chronic sinusitis, see your personal physician or an otorhinolaryngologist to get the appropriate treatment. Note that antibiotics are not useful for chronic sinusitis as they mainly target bacteria, which are not the cause of chronic sinusitis. Treatment options of sinusitis include mist sprays and salt-water nasal washes.
If patients do not respond to medications, surgery could also be recommended as a treatment of sinusitis. Surgery may either enlarge a narrow sinus passage or nasal polyps or bone that block the passage. Sinus surgery also benefits asthma patients. If you do not seek treatment for sinusitis, it could result in pain and discomfort. In rare cases, lack of treatment could result in bone infection or brain abscess.
Guidelines for Preventing Sinusitis
You can prevent sinus by getting a quick treatment for flu or cold. Ensure that you receive an influenza vaccine every year. A handshake could also lead to sinus. So, wash your hands frequently, especially after a handshake. Avoid stressful activities. Consume plenty of vegetables and fruits that are rich in chemicals, which could help you to resist infection.
Avoid smoking or exposure to environmental pollutants in order to prevent sinusitis. You may also make use of a humidifier to increase moisture in your nose and sinus areas. Treat allergies promptly and drink plenty of fluids to increase the moisture within your body.
In most cases treatments help to significantly reduce symptoms of Sinusitis enabling persons to lead normal life.
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