Sinus Infection (Sinusitis): Signs, Symptoms & Treatment

Learn about Sinus infection (sinusitis), causes, signs & symptoms, diagnosis and treatment methods.

• Sinus Infection Overview
• Sinus Infection Causes
• Sinus Infection Signs & Symptoms
  • Signs & Symptoms of Acute Sinusitis
    • Ethmoid sinusitis
    • Maxillary sinusitis
    • Frontal sinusitis
    • Sphenoid sinusitis
  • Signs & Symptoms of Chronic Sinuses
    • Ethmoid sinusitis
    • Maxillary sinusitis
    • Frontal sinusitis
    • Sphenoid sinusitis
• Treatment of Sinus Infection

Sinus Infection Overview

Sinuses are the hollow air-filled cavities that are present in pairs of four in the human skull. They are present around the nasal passage and they provide insulation to the skull along with giving a lighter feel to the skull and allowing the voice to resonate within it. There are four major categories of sinuses viz. Frontal sinuses located in the forehead, Maxillary sinuses situated behind the cheek bones, Ethmoid sinuses placed between the eyes and Sphenoid sinuses that are behind the eyes. These sinuses contain defenses against germs that constitute foreign bacteria or viruses. In the event of disruption in these defenses the bacteria tend to enter any of these sinuses and stick to the lining cells causing an infection. This infection in the form of inflammation formed at the sinuses and the nasal passage is known as sinus infection or sinusitis.

Sinus Infection Causes

There are two types of sinus infections namely chronic sinusitis and acute sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis lasts for more than eight weeks or occurs more than four times a year. Acute sinusitis, on the other hand, lasts for less than eight weeks or occurs for more than three times per year. Sinusitis is usually caused by external agents adhering the lining of the nasal passage and these external agents include allergens, pollutants, viruses, bacteria and fungi. The signs and symptoms of sinusitis depend on which of the four sinuses are infected.

Sinus Infection Signs & Symptoms

Following are the signs and symptoms associated with a sinus infection:

Signs & Symptoms of Acute sinuses :

• Ethmoid sinusitis:
  
  • Nasal congestion with discharge of mucus down the throat from behind the nose.
  • A gush of pain or pressure around the inner corner of the eyes or down one side of the nose.
  • Headache in the temple or in the area around the eye.
  • In the event of coughing, straining or lying on the back the pain and pressure symptoms worsens. It feels better when the head is positioned upright.
  • Occurrence of fever is common.
• Maxillary sinusitis:
  
  • The patient experiences pain around the cheekbone, either under the eye or around it and also pain around the upper teeth.
  • Pain or pressure on one side or both.
  • The cheekbones turn tender and red and swell up gradually.
  • The pain and pressure symptoms get worse when the head is upright and is bending in a forward direction while the pain is milder when the patient reclines.
  • Nasal mucus discharge occurs by dripping down the throat from behind the nose.
  • Fever is a common occurrence.
• Frontal sinusitis:
  
  • It is characterized with severe headaches.
  • Fever is common.
  • Pain and pressure symptoms are worse when reclining and are better when the head is held upright.
  • Nasal discharge is also common that drips down the throat behind the nose.
• Sphenoid sinusitis:
  
  • Severe headache characterized by pain at the posterior and the top portion of the head running across the forehead and also behind the eye.
  • Fever is a common occurrence.
  • Painful symptoms are worse when lying on the back or bending forward.
  • Disturbed or double vision due to the pressure in the brain.
  • Nasal discharge.

Signs & Symptoms of Chronic Sinusitis :

• Ethmoid sinusitis:
  
  • Pain along the bridge of the nose and chronic nasal discharge and blockage.
  • Pain is worse while wearing glasses or in the late morning.
  • Chronic sore throat and bad breath.
• Maxillary sinusitis:
  
  • Pressure builds up below the eye.
  • Chronic toothache
  • Pain is worse in the event of flu, cold or allergies.
  • General discomfort and increased cough in the night.
• Frontal sinusitis:
  
  • Severe headache across the forehead.
  • Trauma  in the sinus area
• Sphenoid sinuses:
  
  • Headache

Sinus Infection Treatment & Drugs:

Since acute sinusitis are caused by Cold viruses, they don’t require any treatment in most cases. Self-care techniques can be used to speed up recovery and to ease symptoms.

Treatment to ease Symptoms:

Doctors may suggest you some treatments to relieve sinusitis symptoms, including:

• Use of Saline Nasal Spray to rinse your nasal passages.
• Use of over the counter medication like Decongestants.
• Use of Nasal corticosteroids to prevent and treat inflammation.
• Use of over the counter pain relievers.

Antibiotics, Antifungal medications or Immunotherapy can be used under proper medical care from your doctor for treatment of Sinus Infection.

1. By bestmedvalues at 28th April, 2010

   Great work… loved the post..

2. By sandra at 20th September, 2010

   Sinus nowadays have become a major issue nowadays.Stress is usually one of the reason for it.Stress when not treated at the proper time can be very serious and lead to several consequences.