Sinusitis Is an Inflammation of the Sinuses Needing Treatments from ENT Sinus Specialists
Do you feel like you have a cold that isn’t subsiding? Experience discolored nasal drainage symptoms and blockage for over ten days that worsens after it seems the problem is getting better. You may be a victim of sinusitis or inflammation of the sinuses. Do not leave the condition untreated but seek a remedy from
ENT in Palm Beach.
Hollow spaces in the bones around the nose connecting to the nose via small narrow channels are called sinuses. Sinusitis, also known as rhinosinusitis, affects one in eight adults every year, and the symptoms involve the nose and the sinuses simultaneously. Many people experience inflammation in their sinuses when bacteria or viruses infect them, often during a cold. The body reacts to the infection by causing the sinus lining to swell and blocking the channels draining the sinuses.
The blockage causes mucus and pus to fill in the nose and sinus cavities. For some people, the inflammation and symptoms may result from the nose and sinuses reacting to other substances in the environment, which may not be an infection.
What Are the Different Types of Sinusitis?
Sinusitis merely indicates inflammation of the sinuses, but the term includes various problems. People with acute sinusitis experience symptoms for fewer than four weeks. If the symptoms last for over 12 weeks, the condition is diagnosed as chronic sinusitis. Often the symptoms are caused by the same reason, but acute and chronic sinusitis are not similar. ENT 33458 can help figure out which type of sinusitis affects you and how to treat it. If you have more than four or more sinus infections in 12 months, it is called recurrent acute sinusitis.
What Are Sinusitis Symptoms?
You may have acute sinusitis if cloudy or colored drainage is visible from your nose for up to four weeks. In addition, you may also have one or more of the following symptoms:
- A blocked, congested, or stuffy nose.
- You may experience pain, pressure, and fullness in and around the eyes, face, and head.
- Long-lasting symptoms of cold also affect you.
- Your symptoms do not improve within ten days of the infection or initially exhibit signs of a recovery before worsening again.
Chronic sinusitis may affect you if you have two of the four symptoms mentioned below for at least 12 weeks. You must have the condition diagnosed by ENT near you to identify signs of polyps, pus, or thickened mucus in the nose or get a CT scan to diagnose chronic sinusitis entirely. The symptoms of chronic sinusitis include:
- Stuffed, congested, or blocked nose.
- Thickened nasal drainage.
- Loss of smell.
- Pain and pressure or fullness in the face, around the eyes, or head.
What Actions Must You Take If You Experience the above Symptoms?
If you experience chronic or acute sinusitis symptoms, you must seek sinusitis treatment near you against the bacteria or virus causing the problem. However, waiting endlessly to receive treatment can make you susceptible to migraines or tension headaches. Instead of enduring the pain and discomfort, isn’t it better to get over the infection at the earliest?
Treatment Options for Sinusitis
Treatments for sinusitis depend on the cause of the condition. Most acute sinusitis cases are caused by viruses and not bacteria making antibiotics ineffective against them. The ENT sinus Specialist near you recommends pain relievers for acute viral sinusitis. Pain relievers and steroid nasal sprays are also suitable options for acute bacterial sinusitis.
The treatment for chronic sinusitis is different because it is caused by inflammation instead of infection. Dr. Mark T Agrama aims to control the information recommending saltwater irrigation or nasal steroid sprays. Antibiotics are sometimes helpful but are not effective in all cases.
X-rays or CT scans of the sinuses are unnecessary when diagnosing uncomplicated sinusitis with symptoms of discharge and pressure or blockage. However, if the doctor suspects a complication or you have repeated episodes of prolonged sinus symptoms, they recommend a CT scan of your sinuses.
Questions You Can Ask from Your Doctor
When you visit the doctor for an evaluation, you can inquire with the professional about the following questions.
- Do you have a bacterial infection?
- Can you take antibiotics for acute bacterial sinusitis?
- Should you get an x-ray or CT scan of your sinuses if you have sinusitis?
- What are the causes for the symptoms you experience?
The doctor explains the reasons for your conditions comprehensively, providing advice on the medications and care you must take when dealing with sinusitis.