Sinusitis

Recently I have been diagnosed with maxillary sinusitis. It's not a surprise me, since I had cold and flu for a long time. My sinusitis was chronic. When I went to the specialist, she wondered how can I stand the inflammation. I replied that I didn't feel anything beside cold and flu. I have studied a little on sinusitis through many sites. Here is the most frequent ask questions about sinusitis:





What is sinus?
A sinus is a hollow space within the bones of the face. The sinuses are lined by a delicate membrane called mucosa. The function of sinusitis is to humidify and warm the air, add to the sense of smell and to play a significant role in the quality of human sound. It is well-known that during acute sinusitis, rhinitis and the common cold, the quality of our voice changes and the senses of smell and taste are reduced.

What is rhinitis?
Rhinitis is an inflammation of mucosa (delicate lining of the inner body surfaces) of nasal passages.

What is sinusitis?
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucosa of various sinuses, which are located around the nasal passages. Usual symptoms include increased nasal secretions and pain or headache around the sinuses.

What are the symptoms related to sinusitis and blockage of the ostium (openings of the sinuses)?
The following are symptoms of sinusitis, which occur when the sinuses are inflamed and ostium are blocked:
nasal congestion, runny or stuffy nose, pain in the upper jaw or teeth, loss of sense of smell or taste, headache, night time cough, persistent fatigue, fever; white, yellow or green discharge.

What is maxillary sinusitis?
Chronic maxillary sinusitis is defined as sinusitis lasting longer than 12 weeks. Suggestive history as above may include chronic facial pressure (maxillary region), headache, rhinorrhea, postnasal drip, decreased sense of smell, or dental pain.

What are the causes of rhinitis and sinusitis?
Cold viruses, bacterial of fungal infections, nasal polyps and deviated nasal septum, allergies, smoking, dust or environmental pollutants, grass and smog, moderate severe acid reflux.

How is the treatment?
The treatment of acute maxillary sinusitis is usually perscription of a broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic resistant to beta-lactamase, administered for 10 days. Surgery for chronic sinusitis is reserved for those patients who did not respond to medical therapy. Medical treatment should include 3-6 weeks of antibiotics, nasal steroids, and nasal saline irrigations. Antibiotics should be chosen after cultures are obtained endoscopically if possible. Oral steroids are used if significant nasal edema is observed on nasal endoscopy. A short course of decongestants and mucolytics should be considered for patients with significant nasal congestion and thick nasal secretions. CT scanning should be obtained to confirm clinical suspicion of chronic sinusitis. Findings may include significant mucosal thickening, air-fluid levels, ostiomeatal complex obstruction, polyposis, or calcification suggestive of fungal sinusitis.


My Treatment Experience
I took medication for 10 days. My medicines are clarinase, lamison, and cravox. The first time after taking the medicines, I felt nausea, dizzy, and sweaty. Then I searched and found out that the dosage was too big for me. I reduced it myself without consultation. After the medicine finished, I felt a strong headache and hard to open my left eye. So, I saw another specialist and she confirmed that my previous medicines were not suppose to be mixed together. Gee... I'm OD!!! Then she gave me something for the headache and rhinitis.

Hope this information will enrich you about sinusitis.