Acute sinusitis is an accumulation of mucus and pus in the sinuses, something that can occur at any age, and regardless of sex. It has a clear seasonal pattern, being more frequent in autumn and winter, but can occur at any time of year. It usually appears in the context of an upper respiratory tract infection or a cold and the symptoms are highly variable. Seeing Bethlehem PA’s Best ENT may be the best way to get relief.
Sinuses are cavities that are distributed around the nose on both sides; two frontal sinuses (in the forehead, above the eyebrows), two maxillary sinuses (under the eyes), two ethmoid sinuses (between the eyes) and sphenoid (behind the nose).These cavities are lined with mucous membranes, such as the ones in the nose. The symptoms related to this issue are fever, pain in the affected area, nasal congestion and rhinorrhea (infected mucus). Usually the infection starts like a common cold; a few days, instead of improving, the patient starts to have pain that focuses on the affected area, which is aggravated by bending over.
Diagnosis is made by exploring the nose using an endoscope that allows the doctor to see the nostrils and points of sinus drainage, which appear red and curved. There could be marked drainage of infected mucus. Sometimes congestion is so intense that there is no rhinorrhea as the ostium is completely closed. A chest x-ray will confirm the presence of mucus or infection.
Treatment focuses on eliminating the infection and the symptoms when they occur. In some patients, despite treatment, the symptoms do not go away. It is necessary to surgically drain the infection since there is a small chance that the surrounding areas could become infection. In other cases, the problem is not the lack of resolution of the infection, but frequent repetition of becoming sick.
Treatment consists of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory nasal decongestants for 8 to 10 days, which may resolve the condition, although the drainage of mucus may go on longer. Monitoring should be performed by the otolaryngologist, as the disappearance of symptoms does not mean that you have healed properly; the problem is that, in some cases, the treatment fails to empty the affected sinuses from all mucus, and reinfection is more likely. For more information contact Bethlehem PA’s Best ENT at today.
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