Sinusitis is a term that describes the inflammation of the mucous lining of the sinus passages and cavities. The sinuses are air-filled chambers located in the skull behind the forehead, cheekbones, nose, and eyes. The sinuses make and drain mucus that helps the body fight infection and clean out the nasal cavity. Sinusitis develops when the normal lining becomes irritated, thickened, or infected, usually from a viral or bacterial infection. This condition can also be caused by structural problems in the nasal passages or from a deviated septum (a misalignment in one or more of the bones that form the nasal and sinus passages).신논현역비염한의원
Most sinus infections are caused by viruses, which do not respond to antibiotics. As a result, providers often try to wait and see how long symptoms last before prescribing antibiotics for a sinus infection. Overusing antibiotics can lead to unnecessary side effects and antibiotic resistance, which makes future infections harder to treat.
Symptoms of a sinus infection include pain, pressure, congestion, and drainage. In some cases, the infection may produce pus or a yellowish to yellow-green nasal discharge. Infected sinuses can be very uncomfortable and affect sleep. In addition, if the infection is chronic, it can significantly interfere with daily functioning. A study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that those suffering from chronic sinusitis had significant problems with work, school, energy, and mental health.
Your provider will examine your nose and sinuses to look for signs of inflammation, including red, swollen, and tender tissue. He or she will press on the forehead and cheekbones to check for tenderness and examine the inside of your nose and sinuses with a thin lighted tube called an endoscope. The provider will also ask about your allergy history and test you for allergies to help determine what is causing the sinus inflammation.
Treatment options for a sinus infection are many and varied. Your provider may recommend rinsing the nose with saline solution, taking over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil, generic) and acetaminophen (Tylenol, generic), and using nasal spray corticosteroids. He or she may also prescribe oral steroids if needed. Antihistamines are not recommended unless prescribed because they can thicken the mucus and make it hard to drain.라경찬한의원
If the sinus infection persists or is chronic, your provider may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist, or an allergist, to find out what’s triggering the sinusitis and how best to manage it. This may include testing for underlying causes, such as allergies, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, structural problems in the nasal passages, or a weakened immune system. It may also include a CT scan or a biopsies of sinus tissue to diagnose fungal infections. In some cases, this could involve surgery. A fungus in the sinuses can cause bone damage that needs to be treated with special types of antibiotics. This can require a longer course of antibiotics than would be needed for other types of infections.