With the onset of winter comes cold and flu season, and for some unfortunates, the stinging signs of sinusitis.
Sinusitis is an inflammation, or swelling, of the tissue lining the sinuses. Normally, sinuses are filled with air, but when sinuses become blocked, the passages are filled with fluid and germs, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, leading to infections.
There are eight sinus areas in the body:
Image via Irish Health
So what should you look out for?
The symptoms of sinusitis are usually linked to a chest infection or head cold.
Depending on how long this continues, symptoms can include:
- Prolonged cold with a stuffy nose
- Green, yellow or blood streaked mucus coming from the nose
- Pain in the head that worsens when lying back-down or bending over
- Reduced sense of smell and taste
- Reduced hearing
- Bad breath
- Copious drip of mucus down the back of the throat
- Snoring
- Sleep apnoea where the sufferer experiences prolonged sleep deprivation throughout the night due to poor oxygen intake
- Dry mouth
- Irritable, red eyes
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Puffy lower eye lids
- Cough and wheeze
- Extreme fatigue to the point of exhaustion
More generally, sinusitis can cause a number of symptoms associated with the common cold such as:
- fever
- fatigue
- night cough
- runny nose
- nasal congestion
- post-nasal drip
How is sinusitis diagnosed?
To diagnose sinusitis, your doctor will review your symptoms and give you a physical examination.This exam may include the doctor feeling and pressing your sinuses for tenderness or inflammation. They may also tap your teeth. This will be to check for inflamed paranasal sinus.
How do you treat sinusitis?
For a simple sinus infection, your pharmacist may recommend a nasal spray with steam inhalations or a decongestant tablet. These treatments should not be used beyond four to five days, and if symptoms persist, you should book an appointment with your doctor.
A doctor may prescribe antibiotics for infections, saline nose drops as well as a vaporizer. Be sure to keep a diary of when symptoms are at their worst, and discuss treatments with your doctor for the most effective treatment.
If you suffer from severe chronic sinusitis, oral steroids might be prescribed to reduce inflammation — usually only when other medications have not worked.
