Sinuses are air spaces that are on your face. These spaces help to reduce the weight of the head. Sinusitis refers to a condition where your sinuses get inflammation and they also swell. Sinusitis presents with excess mucus that makes it harder for you to breathe properly. Having a thick discharge from your nose that may be green or yellow and flows back to the throat is the other symptom of acute sinusitis.
Sinusitis also causes pain in the face around the cheeks, eyes, nose, and forehead and this worsens when you bend. Other symptoms of sinusitis include toothache, headache, ear pain, fatigue, fever, alteration of the sense of smell, and having a bad smell in your mouth. If you get any of these symptoms, it is advisable to visit the doctor. The doctor at Exhale Sinus and Facial Pain Center will take your medical history and examine you to find the exact cause of your symptoms. Treatment is then individualized.
Sinusitis is mostly caused by a viral infection which also causes the common cold. However, some cases of sinusitis are caused by bacterial infections. Here are other factors that can cause sinusitis:
- Allergies
Sometimes you may get acute sinusitis due to allergies. Many allergies can trigger sinusitis including pollen, dust mites, and other irritants. Hay fever, which is also called allergic rhinitis, occurs when your immunity system overreacts due to allergen exposure. Those who suffer from hay fever are also at a high risk of getting acute sinusitis. Smoking cigarettes and inhaling secondhand smoke also put you at risk of acute sinusitis. It is important to learn what the exact trigger of your sinusitis is so that you can avoid it.
- Weak Immunity
When your body’s immune system is weak, you are unable to fight infections. This makes you susceptible to the bacteria that cause acute sinusitis. Some of the conditions that can weaken your immunity system include HIV & AIDs, and cancer. You may also have a weak immunity after taking some medications like corticosteroids and chemotherapy which attacks your bone marrow where defense cells are made.
- Anatomical Defects
There are some abnormalities in the structures of your immunity system that can make you easily get sinusitis. These deformities include a deviated nasal septum which occurs when the wall that divides your nostrils displaces to one of the nostrils, narrowing it. Having a tumor inside your nasal cavity can also increase your risk of sinusitis. Nasal polyps, which are benign growths inside your nose and sinuses, can also cause acute sinusitis.
Here are the complications of acute sinusitis:
If acute sinusitis persists longer than twelve weeks even when you are on treatment, you can get chronic sinusitis, which is a long-term condition. The sinus infection may also spread to the brain causing meningitis, or to the bone causing osteomyelitis. Cellulitis is the infection that occurs when the sinus infection spreads to the skin. If the infection spreads to your eye, it can affect your vision and may cause blindness.
In summary, sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses. The infection is mostly caused by viruses, although bacterial infection is also possible. Some of the risk factors include having anatomical defects, immunosuppression, and allergies. When untreated, the infection may cause complications like meningitis and osteomyelitis.