There are several factors that can play a role in the development of chronic complaints of paranasal sinuses. In some cases, the infection spreads through the infected tooth (dental infection). Other factors include allergic nasal symptoms (eg, fever), blockage of sinus drainage (by nasal polyps, objects (such as beads or nuts), facial injuries, anatomic changes or congenital abnormalities), asthma, bad (eg, rheumatoid arthritis), pregnancy, smoking and other systemic diseases.
What are the Signs of Sinusitis Disease?
The most striking complaints are usually nasal congestion. One or more of the following symptoms may also occur:
- Symptoms of sinusitis: runny nose, mucus can be greenish or yellow
- The sense of smell is reduced
- Pain in the inflamed paranasal cavity. Pain is often not the most prominent symptom of chronic sinusitis (compared with acute sinusitis).
For the diagnosis of chronic sinusitis, two or more of the above symptoms must have been present for more than twelve weeks. The doctor may also diagnose chronic sinusitis if he sees the discharge of green / yellow fluid or nasal polyps during nasendoscopy or detects swollen mucous membranes on CT scan of paranasal sinusitis.
Other symptoms that sometimes occur are: headache, bad breath, toothache, cough, feeling of pressure or fullness in the ears and fatigue.
Examination And Diagnosis Sinusitis
To see if you have chronic sinusitis, you can do a number of tests. The doctor first examines which physical symptoms you have experienced in the past and asked you several questions. This is called anamnesis. The doctor also performs a physical examination. Normally nasal nasal examination (nasendoscopy) will be performed.
You can also go through a number of checks, such as:
- Allergy test
- CT scan of paranasal sinus
- Blood test
How Can You Cure Sinusitis?
Sometimes the cause of chronic paroxysmal symptoms can be eliminated. Other possible treatments are:
- Drugs (eg nasal sprays or antibiotics)
- Nose gargle with saline
- Surgery on paranasal sinuses