Is it just a severe cold, or could it be sinusitis? Often, people confuse a bad cold with sinusitis (sinus disease) because they share similar symptoms like headaches, facial pain, runny nose, and nasal congestion. However, sinusitis can be caused by bacterial infections, requiring antibiotic treatment, unlike a common cold.
Sinusitis, also known as rhinosinusitis, is inflammation of the sinuses, often triggered by bacterial infections, viruses, or fungi. It affects about 1 in 8 adults each year, occurring when viruses and bacteria infect the sinuses. In response to infection, the sinus lining swells, blocking drainage channels and causing mucus and pus to accumulate in nasal and sinus cavities.
Sinus disease can be acute (lasting 3 to 8 weeks, often due to viruses or bacteria) or chronic (lasting longer than 12 weeks, often due to prolonged inflammation). The sinuses, located in the bones around the nose, stay healthy when channels are open, allowing air to enter and mucus to drain.
People with bodily defects, like a bony partition deformity or nasal polyps, often suffer from chronic sinus disease. Allergies and asthma have also been linked to chronic sinusitis, with appropriate treatment potentially improving asthma and allergies.
Signs and symptoms of sinusitis include postnasal drip, greenish nasal discharge, nasal congestion, facial pain or pressure, frontal headaches, toothache, cough, fever, fatigue, and bad breath. Diagnosis involves a physical examination and various tests, such as sinus CT scans, nasal endoscopy, and mucus cultures.
Treatment options include nasal steroid sprays to reduce inflammation, antibiotics for bacterial sinusitis, nasal decongestants for short-term relief, nasal irrigation to drain sinuses, and surgery if drug therapies fail. If you suspect sinusitis, consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and early treatment to avoid complications.
References:
- Advice from the Allergist. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
- Clinical Practice Guideline of Sinusitis. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and
Neck Surgery - Treatment of Sinusitis. NCBI. NIH
