Acute Sinusitis Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors, Complications, Diagnosis and Treatment
What Is Acute Sinusitis ?
The condition is known to source cavities, encompassing the sinuses, nasal passages. This makes them inflamed and swollen. In addition to this, affected nasal passages tend to obstruct the drainage, leading to the accumulation of mucus. Breathing through the nose can become a problem for a person with acute sinusitis. Moreover, the area surrounding the face and eyes can feel swollen, whilst such a person can experience headache or a facial pain.
Common cold tends to be the foremost reason behind acute sinusitis. Some other causes include:
- Fungal infections.
- Bacterial infections.
- Allergies.
Generally, its treatment relies upon the trigger. For majority cases, self-care measures are all what’s needed. Though, constant sinusitis can result in severe infections, as well as other complications. Sinusitis is considered chronic if it continues for more than two months or is recurring.
What Are The Symptoms Of Acute Sinusitis ?
Mostly, the indications of acute sinusitis include:
- Draining discharge of greenish or yellowish color from down the throat’s back or nose. The discharge tends to be thick.
- Decreased sense of taste and smell.
- Cough that intensifies at night time.
- Pressure, pain and swelling surrounding the forehead cheeks, eyes or nose.
Few other signs may include the following:
- Fever
- Fatigue.
- Halitosis, a condition marked by bad breath.
- Aching in teeth and upper jaw.
- Headache.
- Ear pain.
What Causes Acute Sinusitis ?
It is triggered by:
- Viral infection.
- Bacterial infection.
- Fungal infection.
A number of medical conditions are known to raise the chances of sinusitis, or the infection, which sources sinusitis, these are as follow:
- Allergies, for example hay fever.
- Nasal tumors or polyps.
- Deviated nasal septum.
- Tooth infection.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
- Cystic fibrosis.
- Immune system disorders.
What Are The Risk Factors Of Acute Sinusitis ?
You are at an increased risk of developing sinusitis in case of suffering from the following:
- An allergic condition, for example hay fever.
- Nasal passage abnormality.
- GERD.
- Cystic fibrosis.
- Immune system disorder.
Moreover, continuous exposure to pollutants also tends to increase your possibility of sinusitis, for example cigarette smoke.
What Are The Complications Of Acute Sinusitis ?
Complications associated with acute sinusitis are as follow:
- Asthma flare-ups.
- Chronic sinusitis.
- Meningitis.
- Problems with vision.
- Ear infection.
How Is Acute Sinusitis Diagnosis ?
The health care provider will conduct a thorough physical examination of the patient and will need details regarding his or her symptoms. To help screening the condition, the doctor can perform:
- Nasal endoscopy.
- Imaging tests.
- Allergy testing.
How Is Acute Sinusitis Treatment ?
Many of its cases do not need medical aid as they are triggered by viruses. Usually for such, self-care techniques are enough to pace recovery as well as relieving signs. To relieve symptoms, following can help:
- Saline nasal spray.
- Nasal corticosteroids.
- Decongestants.
- Over-the-couter pain relievers.
Antibiotics are often less effective for the case and are merely prescribed for intense cases. If acute sinusitis is sourced by a fungal infection, then the doctor can suggest antifungal drug. Immunotherapy may help with easing the symptoms, in case of being triggered by an allergy.
By : Natural Health News