Nasal sinusitis is also known as chronic rhinosinusitis. It is one of the most common types of acute and chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the mucous membranes of the nose. The symptoms of nasal sinusitis include pain in the nasal bones, cheeks, and forehead, a stuffy nose, and postnasal drip.
These symptoms are due to the inflammation of the sinus passages which are found in the lining of the hollow bones of the nose There is no permanent treatment for the infection. But the symptoms can be kept under control by applying for medicines or by taking preventive measures. To broaden your scope of knowledge on this, click here.
If you have some of the symptoms of nasal sinusitis, then you should consult your doctor at once. There are certain basic rules that an effective operative treatment for the infection should follow. The first rule is to use nasal decongestants. There are a large number of drugs that act on the cells that cause swelling and inflammation.
Some of these decongestants reduce the irritation and pain caused by the infection. Oral decongestant drugs like warfarin acetate are prescribed for persons who have a large number of chronic symptoms of nasal sinusitis.
Other medications like prednisone, steroid injections, and nasal corticosteroids can also relieve the symptoms of nasal sinusitis. Steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the swelling and relieve the pain. This can be very helpful for persons suffering from acute conditions.
However, this is not so useful for persons with acute conditions like a cold or flu. A cold or flu can cause symptoms like a runny nose, nasal discharge, headache, sneezing, etc.
The best option in acute conditions like acute infection in the sinuses, acute allergic rhinitis, post-nasal drip, sinusitis with or without bacterial infection, etc. is to undergo a thorough dental examination. A complete radiographic examination showed that a large number (more than 80%) of abnormalities were found in persons who had suffered acute sinusitis.
Some of these abnormalities included enlargement of the paranasal sinus, increased mucus secretion, obstruction of the draining sinus passages, severe drainage of the nose, abscess formation, migration of bacteria, and presence of a perforation.
These findings pointed to the fact that the patient was suffering from a severe infection like sinusitis or infection of the lung. Acute cases of sinusitis should be treated with aggressive surgery, antibiotics, and surgical decompression.
On the other hand, there are some cases of sinusitis that do not show any symptoms or develop slowly over a period of time. In such cases, the physician may require an expert examination to determine the cause. In such conditions, a careful history and a systematic approach are required.
Swelling of the face, pain in the face, headache, nausea, eye irritation, nasal discharge, fever, loss of appetite, and fatigue are some of the common symptoms of chronic sinusitis. Chronic bacterial infection can result in chronic complications.
Therefore, a thorough history and a gram stain investigation of the nasal passage along with a relevant physical examination of the face, neck, and upper back are required for the diagnosis of chronic bacterial infection. In conclusion, it can be stated that the most important step in determining the nature of nasal sinusitis is the Gram stain analysis.
Gram stain analysis of mucus from the nose can help differentiate between nasal sinusitis and chronic bronchitis. In addition, a thorough physical examination of the head, neck, shoulders, and upper back along with the sampling of the nose fluid are also helpful in determining the exact cause.
Chronic sinusitis is frequently associated with an allergic reaction to dust and other irritants or allergens.
In such cases, the timely use of an effective treatment along with prompt medical attention can help prevent complications like permanent damage to the respiratory tract, permanent inflammation of the membranes of the sinuses and infection of the lungs, as well as the development of bacterial infections.
In case of severe acute sinusitis or infection, the most common complication is the development of acute bronchitis or pneumonia, which requires specialized medical care and treatment. X-rays are useful in determining the thickness of the nasal wall in the affected sinus. The severity of the acute attack of sinusitis can be judged by taking the help of x-rays.
Usually, the treatment prescribed involves fluid congestion, antibiotic prescription, and inhaling medicines like nose drops. In case of severe inflammation and blockage, permanent damage to the affected sinus cavity is also possible and required immediate medical attention.
If you think that you are affected by either acute conditions or chronic conditions of the sinuses, you should immediately consult a doctor. It is important to know what the causes of the symptoms are so that proper treatment is taken at the right time.
It is very important to know about the symptoms of acute conditions and chronic conditions of sinuses. You should also know about the preventive measures against them.
