Sinusitis- types, causes, symptoms complications

What is Sinusitis? Sinusitis may be acute if there is an acute inflammation of sinus mucosa or chronic in which sinus infection lasts for several months or years. In acute sinusitis, the maxillary sinus is commonly involved after this other sinus ethmoid, frontal, and sphenoid get involved.

Sinusitis is common where there is a cold climate, atmospheric pollution, smoke, overcrowding, dust.

Types of sinusitis:

Open and closed type, depending on, is the inflammatory products of the sinus cavity drain easily into the nasal cavity through natural Ostia or not.

Causes of sinusitis:

1. Nasal infections: Viral rhinitis followed by a secondary bacterial infection is a common cause of acute sinusitis.
2. Dental infections: Infection from molar or premolar teeth leads to sinusitis.
3. Contaminated water in the swimming pool and other water sports.
4. Compound fractures of sinuses, leads to sinusitis.
5. Stoppage of secretions in the nasal cavity, due to obstruction like in enlarged adenoids, or due to viscosity like in cystic fibrosis.
6. Sinuses are well ventilated, they also secrete little amount of mucus, which is directed towards the sinus Ostia from where it drains into the nasal cavity, anything which stops this function causes sinusitis due to stoppage of secretions in the sinus, like neoplasm, deviated nasal septum, nasal polyp, hypertrophic turbinates, edema of sinus Ostia.

Acute maxillary sinusitis:

Causes:

The most common cause is viral rhinitis followed by a bacterial infection, water sports in contaminated water, dental infections and trauma.

Symptoms:

1. Fever, the feeling of discomfort, body ache.
2. Frontal headache mimics frontal sinusitis.
3. Pain over the upper jaw radiates towards gums or teeth, this increased by coughing, chewing, stooping.
4. Edema and cheek redness is commonly found in children.

Investigation:

Xray and Transillumination test.

Acute frontal sinusitis:

Causes:

Viral infections of the upper respiratory tract followed by a bacterial infection, entry of contaminated water in sinus, trauma, edema of the external meatus.

Symptoms:

Frontal headache, which has a characteristic that it comes on waking, increases slowly and reaches its peak at mid of the day and after then it starts subsiding, it is also known as the office headache.

Tenderness on the floor of the frontal sinus.

Nasal discharge depending upon whether the ostium is closed or open.

Swelling of the upper eyelid.

Investigations:

X-ray, both views are must i.e Water’s view and Lateral view.

Chronic Sinusitis:

Normal ciliated epithelium is impaired during acute infection, which impairs drainage from the sinus, this causes the stagnation of secretions in the sinus which becomes source of infection.

Symptoms:

They are very similar to acute sinusitis but are less severe than acute sinusitis. Foul-smelling nasal discharge is a common complaint. Localized pain and headache are not marked but may present in a flare-up of the symptoms. In some cases stuffiness of nose and loss to detect smell (anosmia) is present.

Investigation:

X-ray and CT scan.

Complications of sinusitis:

Complications of sinusitis, arise when sinus infection spreads into or beyond the wall of the sinus. Below are their types:

1. Focal infections.
2. Descending infections.
3. Orbital complications.
4. Intracranial complications.
5. Osteomyelitis.

Focal infections:

It is doubtful that is there any role of sinus infection to act as a focus of infection. Some pathologies like tenosynovitis, polyarthritis, fibrositis, and some diseases of the skin may respond to the removal of sinus infections.

Descending infections:

In sinus infection in which there is the formation of pus, the discharge flows into the pharynx and can lead to pharyngitis and tonsilitis, otitis media, persistent laryngitis, and tracheobronchitis.

Orbital complications:

1. Orbital cellulitis.
2. Inflammatory edema of eyelids.
3. Subperiosteal abscess.
4. Orbital abscess.
5. Superior orbital fissure syndrome.

Intracranial complications:

1. Meningitis and encephalitis.
2. Cavernous sinus thrombosis.
3. Extradural abscess and subdural abscess.
4. Brain abscess.

Homeopathy treatment is very effective in the treatment of sinusitis.

Some natural ways which help to relieve sinus pressure:

1. Essential oils like peppermint oil as it contains menthol which helps to open the air and clear the mucus, some studies show that oil of peppermint may fight bacteria, other essential oils are also beneficial in sinusitis.
   1. Oil of eucalyptus.
   2. Oregano oil.
   3. Oil of rosemary.
   4. Oil of lavender.

Essential oils can be put as drops in the tissue or handkerchief or can be mixed in hot water to inhale, in a steam inhaler. They can be used in an essential oil diffuser. They must not be ingested.

2. Put a clean cloth in warm water and after wringing extra water, and make it folds and put across the nasal bridge, it will relieve the pressure due to sinusitis.

3. Maintain your hydration level, by drinking plenty of fluids, as this hydration keeps the mucus membrane of sinus moist, herbal teas can be entertained as against common tea.

4. Steam inhalation helps in sinusitis, either plain or by adding essential oil that may contain menthol, etc. Inhalational capsules are easily available in the market.

5. Neti pot.

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