Sinusitis

With the onset of autumn slush and cold weather, colds and runny nose become constant companions of many people. Seemingly minor illnesses can lead to complications with insufficient or incorrect treatment. And running rhinitis (or simply a runny nose) threatens to turn into a more acute form - sinusitis. With the disease, the paranasal sinuses swell, and all this is accompanied by constant nasal congestion, nasal sound, poor health and severe headaches.

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Depending on the cause of the appearance and the characteristics of the course of the disease, sinusitis can be divided into the following types.

Infectious (viral, bacterial, fungal) sinusitis

If the immune system malfunctions, bacteria or infections enter the human body through the blood or respiratory tract. Inflammation is triggered by a hemophilic bacillus, chlamydia, staphylococcus, streptococcus, as well as various types of fungi. It is with this type of sinusitis that most quickly the usual form turns into purulent. Is this type of sinusitis contagious? Only with direct and close contact with a sick person.

Allergic sinusitis

The main cause is allergic rhinitis, which most often occurs in spring or autumn. With sinusitis of this type, nasal swelling and irritation of the mucous membrane appear. The disease is paroxysmal in nature, characterized by constant nasal congestion, constant sneezing and discharge, as well as itching.

Vasomotor sinusitis

This unusual name hides a violation of nasal breathing caused by a narrowing in the nasal passage. The main reason for the vasomotor type is a change in the excitability of the autonomic nervous system, as a result of which it reacts inadequately to physical stimuli from the outside.

Vasomotor sinusitis, in turn, is divided into two types:

1. Allergic.
2. Neurovegetative, i.e. caused either by endocrine disorders, or by anomalies of the nasal septum, as well as by prolonged use of vasoconstrictor drugs (xylometazoline, naphthyzine, etc.).

Both of these types are characterized by impaired breathing and sleep, poor appetite, weakness, pain in the head and fatigue.

Exudative sinusitis

The name comes from the word "exudate" - the fluid that accumulates in the sinus during acute inflammation. With this form, serous and purulent discharge comes from the nose. They linger in the nose, dry out and become crusted. In a more severe form, the exudate is more watery, and the mucus leaves in portions, flowing into the nasal cavity at a certain position of the head.

Productive sinusitis

This type is subdivided into:

• cheesy;
• parietal hyperplastic;
• atrophic;
• polypous;
• necrotic;
• cholesteatomic.

During productive sinusitis, polyps form, the mucous membrane inside the sinus grows and deforms. When the mucous membrane thickens, fluid does not form inside it.

Necrotizing sinusitis

This type of sinusitis is the most complicated stage. This type provokes necrosis, i.e. death of tissue in the sinus. It cannot be cured by purely medication; surgical intervention is required. With the dying off of the posterior wall of the sinus, an extadural abscess, meningitis, and also an abscess of the brain develop.

Atrophic sinusitis

This is a form that is accompanied by atrophy (i.e., partial death) of the mucous membrane. With atrophic sinusitis, the discharge from the nose smells unpleasant, and the patient may experience pain in the sinuses.

Causes

The disease can be caused by various factors:

1. The main reason is colds and acute respiratory infections, because they are accompanied by a runny nose, and with tissue edema and mucus accumulation, a favorable environment is formed for the reproduction of bacteria and fungi.
2. Hypothermia and constant exposure to cold air and drafts also lead to colds and runny nose, which threatens to turn into sinusitis and lead to an exacerbation of the chronic form of the disease.
3. Allergic reactions.
4. Congenital anomalies: curvature of the septum, etc.
5. Injury to the nasal septum and nearby bones and cartilage.
6. Infection with infections, bacteria or fungi.
7. Adenoids and polyps that form in the nasal cavity.
8. Such serious diseases as tuberculosis, radiation sickness, fungus, etc.

It must be remembered: many of these reasons are interrelated, and they all lead to sad consequences if a person is engaged in treatment on their own or even delays with it.

Symptoms of sinusitis

Disease can be distinguished by several signs:

1. Nasal congestion and discharge. As a result of edema of the mucous membrane and stagnation of fluid, a person is tormented by a feeling of pressure in the sinus area.
2. With the complication of the disease, severe and prolonged headaches begin. There is also pain in the bridge of the nose and temples.
3. The temperature rises to 37-38 degrees.
4. Weakness may occur, memory and concentration may deteriorate.
5. Decreased performance and fatigue.

Note that it is not necessary that all of these symptoms appear together - the disease may be accompanied by only a couple of these symptoms.

Symptoms of sinusitis in adults

Sinusitis is equally unpleasant in people of any age, regardless of gender. The disease in adults is characterized by:

1. Painful sensations in the nasal area that increase over time. Usually they are almost absent in the morning, but in the evening they intensify. Sometimes it is not a specific place that begins to hurt, but the whole head.
2. The nose is blocked, and the voice becomes nasal.
3. There is a clear or greenish (purulent) discharge from the nose.
4. If the nose is very stuffy, then sinusitis without a runny nose is possible, i.e. no discharge.
5. In the acute stage of the disease, the temperature reaches 38 degrees, and sometimes more. But if sinusitis has turned into chronic, then temperature jumps are not observed.
6. Sleep is disturbed.
7. Decreased appetite.
8. Tonsillitis or pharyngitis may occur, resulting in a sore throat and cough.

With a more advanced form of the disease, there may also be a loss of smell, tearing, sweating, bad breath and nose, and a strange taste when eating.

Symptoms of sinusitis in children

In young children under the age of 3-4 years, sinusitis, in principle, cannot be - the sinuses are not yet developed. A little later, it may occur with a cold and pass easily. But still, you shouldn't ignore its symptoms:

• high body temperature;
• poor sense of smell, i.e. inability to distinguish between smells;
• pain in the maxillary sinuses, especially when bending down;
• nasal congestion.

If you observe any of these symptoms in the baby, it is worth showing him to the doctor in order to prescribe the correct and timely treatment.

Diagnosis of sinusitis

Before starting treatment, it is necessary to identify the form of sinusitis. To do this as accurately as possible, you need to choose the correct diagnostic method:

• medical examination;
• x-ray;
• MRI.

Diagnostics will identify the following types of disease.

Catarrhal sinusitis

This is the mildest form of sinusitis, which is caused by ARVI and influenza, severe rhinitis, allergies, deviated nasal septum and injuries in the nasal region.

It is possible to determine this type of disease without special medical equipment on the basis of complaints and the collection of the patient's anamnesis. If a person has sinus swelling, clear discharge and weakness, but the temperature is normal, this is the initial stage of the disease. But if the disease has become chronic, X-rays are indispensable. Also, doctors use CT and MRI for a more accurate diagnosis.

Bilateral sinusitis

It is a slightly more advanced stage, and its peculiarity is the swelling of the sinuses on both sides. Here, in addition to the above methods, additional research methods may be needed. They are needed to determine the bilateral nature of inflammation. Also, the patient must pass tests to find out how the infection was the causative agent of the disease. Usually, pathological secretions from nasal secretions are collected.

Polypoid sinusitis

X-ray and MRI will help to pinpoint the presence of polyps in the nasal cavity. This type of sinusitis is treated only with surgical intervention.

Chronic sinusitis

When the disease goes by itself, it certainly turns into a chronic form, and sinusitis is no exception. If the patient suffers from this ailment for several months, or even years, a simple examination by an otolaryngologist is indispensable. It is necessary to do x-rays, CT scans, MRIs and other checks to reveal the real picture of what is happening. Most people with chronic sinusitis do not even suspect that they may have adenoids and polyps in the nasal septum, and cysts form in the sinuses.

Purulent sinusitis

This type of disease manifests itself as periodic exacerbations and yellow-green profuse nasal discharge mixed with pus. First of all, with this type, tests are performed for pathogenic microflora: the doctor finds out what exactly caused the inflammation. Additional examinations with the help of apparatuses are prescribed if necessary.

Acute sinusitis

With an exacerbation of sinusitis, the patient himself can diagnose his condition. Signs such as high fever, weakness, lethargy, nasal congestion and the presence of mucus, you can say with almost one hundred percent probability that you have sinusitis.

Odontogenic sinusitis

This type usually occurs after a visit to the dentist. An X-ray is indispensable here - tooth inflammation is the cause of such inflammation in 99% of cases.

Sinusitis treatment

Such a serious illness cannot be treated on its own. Entrust your health to professionals. Specialists of the K + 31 Clinic Medical Center will conduct a full cycle of sinusitis treatment, from diagnostics to the patient's discharge and final examination. The center has unique treatment methods:

1. Puncture with sinusitis - getting rid of fluid stagnant in the nasal cavity.
2. Yamik procedure for sinusitis - pumping out pus from several sinuses at once.
3. Procedure "Cuckoo" for sinusitis - washing without punctures.

These and other methods will effectively and safely cure even sinusitis during pregnancy, in children and the elderly.

Complications and consequences

If the disease is not cured in time, it can lead to other serious ailments:

• the transition of the disease to a chronic form;
• sepsis;
• inflammation of the pharynx and tonsils;
• otitis;
• rheumatism;
• bronchitis;
• myocarditis;
• pneumonia;
• jades;
• meningitis,
• encephalitis;
• arthritis.

Prevention of sinusitis

You can protect yourself from this unpleasant disease in simple ways:

1. Dress for the weather and try not to get sick once again with a cold and runny nose.
2. Treat arising allergic reactions in time.
3. Maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity at home and at work.
4. Do not contact people with sick infections unless absolutely necessary.
5. And most importantly - do not delay the treatment of influenza, acute respiratory viral infections and a common cold.

Question answer

Question : Is it possible to warm the nose with sinusitis?

Answer : No, this will only increase the swelling.

Question : What color is the snot with sinusitis?

Answer : Without infection, they have no color at all. In a mild form, it is white-yellow or just white, and with purulent sinusitis and infection, they acquire green and green-yellow shades.

Question : Is it possible to go to the bathhouse with sinusitis?

Answer : It is possible, but either at the initial stage, or with chronic sinusitis. During an exacerbation of the disease, it is absolutely impossible to do this.

Now you are warned, which means you are armed against sinusitis. This disease is easy to recognize and cure, but it is better not to delay treatment and lead to its occurrence.