Sinusitis

Sinusitis
literally means “inflammation of the sinus cavities.” This inflammation is what happens when a patient’s nose and sinuses are exposed to any thing that might irritate the membranous linings. These irritants may include dust and pollution, cigarette smoke, and other irritants.

Rhinitis
refers to inflammation of the nasal mucosal linings only.

Sinusitis
refers to inflammation of the mucosal linings of the sinuses and is usually associated with and often preceded by rhinitis. Because the two go together, ear, nose, and throat specialists today often use the term
rhino sinusitis.

Sinuses are hollow air spaces
. There
are four pairs of cavities
or spaces known as
paranasal sinuses
. These cavities located within the skull or bones of the head surrounding the nose, include the:

Frontal sinuses
over the eyes in the brow area.

Maxillary sinuses
inside each cheekbone.

Ethmoid sinuses
just behind the bridge of the nose and between the eyes.

Sphenoid sinuses
behind the ethmoids in the upper region of the nose and behind the eyes.

Each sinus has an opening into the nose for the free exchange of air and mucous, and each is joined with the nasal passages by a continuous lining…

Condition associated with, or predisposing to sinusitis:

Rhinitis (allergic and non-allergic)

Viral “colds”

Asthma

Anatomic obstructions - nasal polyps, septal deviations, enlarged adenoids, foreign body, cleft palate, dental infection

GERD

Systemic diseases (uncommon):

Immune deficiency

Ciliary dyskinesis

Cystic Fibrosis

Aspirin Sensitivity

Symptoms of Sinusitis may be one or more of the following:

Headache

Pain and pressure in the face

Prolonged discolored mucous from the nose or down the back of the throat

Stuffy nose

Productive cough

Fever

Tooth pain

Reduced sense of taste or smell

Cough

Asthma flare

Although the sphenoid sinuses are less frequently affected, infection in

this area can cause earaches, neck pain, and deep aching at the top of

your head.

Other symptoms of sinusitis can include

Fever

Weakness

Tiredness

A cough that may be more severe at night

Runny nose (rhinitis) or nasal congestion.

Acute bacterial sinusitis
in
adults
most often presents with > 7 days of symptoms of purulent drainage, nasal congestion, postnasal drip, facial or dental pain/pressure, and cough, especially at night.Children with acute sinusitis often have cough, runny nose, and nasal congestion.

Acute bacterial sinusitis
is defined to be less than 4 weeks duration. Chronic sinusitis refers to inflammation of the sinuses with symptoms lasting longer than 12 weeks.

Chronic sinusitis
is associated with allergic rhinitis in 36% - 60% of children and 40% - 80% of adults.

How is sinusitis diagnosed?

Because your nose can get stuffy when you have a condition like the common cold, you may confuse simple nasal congestion with sinusitis. A cold, however, usually lasts about 7 to 14 days and disappears without treatment. Acute sinusitis often lasts longer and typically causes more symptoms than just a cold.

Your doctor can diagnose sinusitis by listening to your symptoms, doing a

physical examination, and taking X-rays, and if necessary, an MRI or CT scan

(magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography).

Although home remedies cannot cure sinus infection, they might give you some comfort.

Inhaling steam from a vaporizer or a hot cup of water can soothe inflamed sinus cavities.

Saline nasal spray, which you can buy in a drug store, can give relief.

Gentle heat applied over the inflamed area is comforting.

Prevention:

Humidifying the air in your home especially if heated by a dry forced-air system.

Central humidifiers should be set to 30-40% relative humidity.

Avoid cigarette smoke and other air pollutants, especially if allergic. Inflammation caused by allergies can predispose a person to strong reactions to irritants.

Chlorinated pools may irritate the lining of the nose and sinuses. Divers may have increased congestion when water is forced into the sinuses from the nose.

Use of nasal decongestants before air travel may prevent blockage of the sinuses or the eustachian tubes in the ears.

If you are prone to getting sinus disorders, especially if you have allergies, you should avoid cigarette smoke and other air pollutants.

If you suspect that your sinus inflammation may be related to dust, mold, pollen,or food-or any of the hundreds of allergens that can trigger an upper respiratory reaction.

Homeopathy for sinusitis-

Homeopathy has constitutional treatment approach for sinusitis which not only removes present complaints but also prevents recurrence.Homeopathy remedies for sinusitis vary since there can also be different types of sinusitis. There are eight sinuses in the skull. The condition may affect any part of them which may also present different symptoms. In homeopathic practice, the type of symptoms displayed plays a big role in determining the type of homeopathic remedy used. Homeopathy resolves cases of sinusitis very effectively at all stages
. Homeopathy works best for acute as well as chronic cases of sinusitis.
The control in pain, nasal discharges, difficult breathing, and frequency of attack is achieved with success rate of 90% the duration of treatment for acute cases of sinusitis is maximum 2 weeks. Treatment duration of chronic sinusitis depends upon the cause, stage of illness and other treatment tried by the patient...