AN OVERVIEW OF SINUSITIS

AN OVERVIEW OF SINUSITIS Jul,27,2020

Sinus infection or sinusitis is actually an inflammation of the sinuses due to a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. Sinus infection is a commonly occurring condition in most of the individuals. Most people remain unaware of the infection when it happens, and due to this, proper medical attention is not given to the problem.

Infections in the sinus cavities are usually brought to attention when the individual experiences a range of physical symptoms like facial pain, headache, nasal congestion, runny nose, etc. In case if you experience any such symptoms, it is highly necessary to undertake proper medical treatment at any of the low income clinics nearby. This will aid in relieving the infection before it spreads to other areas and thereby prevent the condition from becoming complicated.

The healthcare professionals at our affordable health clinic rely on appropriate medications and surgical interventions to clear the infection from your body. Below is a brief overview of sinusitis, its causes, and the treatment options.

How are Sinus Infections Caused

Sinuses are hollow air-filled cavities inside the skull that are interconnected to each other. Their primary role is to filter out and humidify the air inhaled and have mucus and cilia cells lining their membranes for the purpose. This helps in keeping out dust, microbes, and other contaminants from entering the respiratory system. This is released in the form of secretions into the nasal cavities.

Blockages in the movement of this secretions cause the sinuses to become filled up, resulting in the buildup of germs, and thereby leading to an infection. However, many conditions can lead to such blockages in the sinuses such as a common cold, allergic rhinitis, deviated septum, and the presence of nasal polyps.

Types of Sinus Infections

There are different types of sinus infections, and that varies depending upon its duration. The common types of sinusitis are acute, chronic, infectious, or noninfectious.

Acute sinusitis is known to quickly develop and can last for about 7 to 10 days. Its major symptoms include facial pain, congestion, runny nose, loss of smell, etc. On the other hand, chronic sinusitis will last for about 12 weeks and will exhibit the symptoms throughout this period. The symptoms include nasal blockages, fever, a feeling of pressure or congestion in the face, and runny nose.

Diagnosing and Treatment

Diagnosing sinusitis is entirely based on the symptoms that you exhibit. It starts with examinations of your nose, throat, and the sinuses. The medical professional will carry out a CT scan of the sinuses or use an endoscope in order to get detailed images of the sinuses.

By conducting such imaging tests, the healthcare professional would determine the extent of infection that you have in your sinuses. Other forms, such as taking samples of the mucus, are also carried out to determine the type of bacteria or virus, which might have caused the infection.

Treatment for sinusitis is generally carried out through antibiotic medications. Moreover, the healthcare professionals might also recommend using antihistamines or topical nasal corticosteroids to prevent the inflammation. Surgery is performed if the infection has advanced and carries the risks of spreading it other areas.

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    About the Author

    Dr. Ghassan M. Al-Jazayrly, MD

    A graduate of University of Aleppo Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Al-Jazayrly or, as he is colloquially known: Dr. AJ, is an oncologist and hematologist of a Complete Care Community Health Center (CCCHC) with more than 36 years of experience. In recent years, he’s been involved with a non profit organization known as Every Woman Counts (EWC) which provides free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to California’s underserved populations in order to eliminate health disparities for low-income individuals.

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