I ask because I get acute sinusitis about 3 or 4 times a year from either colds or allergies. I don’t want to take antibiotics too much, because it causes resistance. I also don’t want the sinus infections to cause a complication like abscesses or meningitis, though.

By: Graciela, RIRS

About the Author:

Bellamy

The sinuses (say: sy-nus-is) are air-filled spaces found in the bones of the head and face. Sinuses start developing before you are born and some of them keep growing until you’re about 20. There are four pairs of sinuses, or eight in all. They are located on either side of the nose in your cheeks, behind and between the eyes, in the forehead, and at the back of the nasal cavity.

Sinus infection, or sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. A sinus infection can cause a headache or pressure in the eyes, nose, cheek area, or on one side of the head. A person with a sinus infection may also have a cough, a fever, bad breath, and nasal congestion with thick nasal secretions. Sinusitis is categorized as acute (sudden onset) or chronic (long term, the most common type).

Acute sinusitis usually follows a viral infection in the upper respiratory tract, but

allergens (allergy-causing substances), or pollutants may also trigger acute sinusitis. A viral infection causes damage to the cells of the sinus lining, which leads to inflammation. The lining thickens with fluid that obstructs the nasal passage. This passage connects to the sinuses.

Most cases of acute sinusitis start with a common cold, which is caused by a virus. Colds can inflame your sinuses and cause symptoms of sinusitis. Both the cold and the sinus inflammation usually go away without treatment within 2 weeks. If the inflammation produced by the cold leads to a bacterial infection, however, then this infection is what health experts call acute sinusitis.

Causes of Sinus Infection

Fungus infection is known to cause sinus infection. Fungi are found profusely in our environment but it is harmless to humans as we have a natural resistance to fungi. But you must beware of the common black mold which we may find in our homes. Black mold can only proliferate in moist and damp areas. These are the areas where natural sunlight cannot reach. If nothing is done and you breathe in these mold spores regularly, your body’s natural immune system could fall drastically.

The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull (behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes) that are lined with mucus membranes. Healthy sinuses contain no bacteria or other organisms (they are sterile) and are open, allowing mucus to drain and air to circulate.

There are also various kinds of bacteria that can also cause sinus infections. In addition the cilia, which are small hairs in the nasal passages and sinus cavities that help to move mucous out of the nasal area, can get damaged by smoke, lack of humidity or other causes. When this happens the mucous stagnates and becomes a perfect area for bacteria to grow and start an infection. Allergies to food and other substances can also be a cause of food allergies.

Treatment of Sinus Infection

Silver Sinus was developed specifically to address these findings. When you go to a doctor looking for a sinus infection cure, the normal course of action is to prescribe antibiotics.

Sinus surgery may have to be done to clean out the accumulated mucus and infection and to enlarge the drain hole to allow better mucus drainage.

As the sinus infection clears up, the sinus headaches should disappear. In the meantime, over-the-counter pain relievers, decongestants and saline nasal spray might help you feel better. Use these products only as directed. It may help to drink plenty of fluids as well.



By: Corwin Brown

About the Author:

Anthony

A sinusitis infection may start off simple: runny nose, cough, and congestion. But when it is not taken care of in time, it can lead to much more severe symptoms.

Sinusitis infections are generally caused by a cold or an allergy. When a cold or allergy occurs, swelling of the sinus cavity lining takes place. When bacteria enter the sinus cavities, they attack the swollen lining which then causes greater inflammation. The cilia is a part of the sinuses which usually flushes out the bacteria and mucus. When a great amount of inflammation occurs, the cilia can no longer function as it should and so the bacteria and mucus end up becoming trapped in the cavities and as a result the sinusitis infection transpires.

In general, the symptoms of an acute sinusitis infection may include cough, congestion, facial pain and pressure, headache, green nasal discharge, and postnasal drip. When the sinusitis infection lasts for twelve or more weeks it is known as chronic sinusitis and can have added symptoms such as loss of sense of taste and smell and fatigue may also be experienced. Other symptoms may also occur depending on which sinus cavity that the infection lies in.

There are numerous medications and treatments meant to offer relief to the sinusitis infection sufferer. One of the most common treatments is oral medications such as antibiotics, decongestants, and anti-fungals. Oral medications work on infections and other problems by traveling through the blood stream to the infected area. In the sinus cavities there are very few blood vessels. Since the oral medications use the blood stream to flow to the area where they are needed, only a small amount of the medication can be delivered to the sinusitis infection which may lead to little or no relief from the treatment. Also since these medications use the blood stream, it then is distributed through out the rest of the body also which can lead to many side effects such as stomach pain, drowsiness, amongst many others depending on which type of medication is being used.

There are also many treatments which are directly distributed into the sinus cavities. These treatments are generally meant to help moisten the cilia so that it can flush out the trapped mucus and bacteria. Nasal sprays are commonly used and can be prescribed or purchased over the counter. The nasal sprays may offer some relief to the lower part of the sinuses but often times may not help the infection since their particle sizes are too large to make it past the inflammation at the opening of the sinus cavities and up to the sinusitis infection. The same holds true for a treatment called irrigation which distributes saline up to the sinus cavities. Irrigation is also very messy and generally unsuccessful in offering relief.

A newer treatment that is used nasally is aerosolized medications. Aerosolized medications are used very much like nebulized asthma medications. These antibiotics, anti-fungals, and anti-inflammatories are broken down into a small particle size so that it can pass the inflammation and make its way up to the sinusitis infection. Generally a small amount of these medications are used which results in little to no side effects in the rest of the body.

There are many options on the market which are meant to offer relief for sinusitis infections. It is important to find the treatment that works best for you and to treat the infection before it worsens and surgery is then left as the only option.



By: Amy Jo Abbey

About the Author:

Bruce

Sinusitis is an acute or account upset made by the swelling of the nasal passages and rubor of the sinuses. The swollen nasal passages create a obstruction and the nasal discharges cannot be evicted; in clip infection looks.

Causes

Most cases of acute sinusitis start with a common cold, which is caused by a virus. Colds can inflame your sinuses and cause symptoms of sinusitis. Both the cold and the sinus inflammation usually go away without treatment within 2 weeks. If the inflammation produced by the cold leads to a bacterial infection, however, then this infection is what health experts call acute sinusitis.

Sinus problems can be caused by many things- you have to think about environmental and food allergies (allergic sinusitis), chronic sinus infection, and chronic colds. Without more information, it’s hard to be specific. Sinusitis often develops after colds, and can become a chronic problem.

Acute sinusitis usually follows a viral infection in the upper respiratory tract, but allergens (allergy-causing substances), or pollutants may also trigger acute sinusitis. A viral infection causes damage to the cells of the sinus lining, which leads to inflammation. The lining thickens with fluid that obstructs the nasal passage. This passage connects to the sinuses. The obstruction disrupts the process that removes bacteria normally present in the nasal passages, and the bacteria begin to multiply and invade the lining of the sinus. This causes the symptoms of sinus infection. Allergens and pollutants produce a similar effect.

Symptoms

The symptoms of sinus infection are general weakness and lethargy, nasal congestion, rhinitis or runny nose and it is also common to have fever and headache in all types of sinus infection.

Some people will find difficulty in their focus. Their eyes are especially sensitive to bright lights. A chronic sore throat which does not seem to heal could mean the presence of sinus infection. Serous otitis media, a condition where the eustachian tubes are blocked by mucus, could also point to sinus infection.

Prevention is the best treatment. A little effort of prevention is priceless; you can get by without having a sinusitis infection. Bacteria can be the cause of this condition, taking in healthy foods and supplements can strengthen your immune system which can lessen the occurrence of a sinus infection as well as dizziness. Proper medication and equipment can prevent bacterial infections; this can also lessen the severity of the sinus infection.

Preventing sinusitis can be made by avoiding all form of pollution, thorns, allergic reactions and common colds. In lawsuit of common colds and allergic reactions that cannot be forbade, apply short-term nasal decongestants during the onsets. Blow your olfactory organ carefully so you dont amend the sinuses; drink many fluids to hydrate the sinus membranes, maintain the nasal passages clear from mucous secretion and aid drainage by saline solutions.

Treatment

Antibiotics are medicines meant to fight bacterial infections. Since most sinus infections are caused by bacteria, it is quite a common practice for doctors to prescribe antibiotics for its treatment.

The type of antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, however, depends on the type of bacterial infection you are suffering from.

Surgery to clean and drain the sinuses may also be necessary, especially in patients with recurrent episodes of inflammation despite medical treatment. An ENT specialist, also known as an otolaryngologist, can perform this surgery.

Most fungal sinus infections require surgery. Surgical repair of a deviated septum or nasal polyps may prevent recurrence.



By: peterhutch

About the Author:

Ameriko

Sinus infection, or sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. A sinus infection can cause a headache or pressure in the eyes, nose, cheek area, or on one side of the head. A person with a sinus infection may also have a cough, a fever, bad breath, and nasal congestion with thick nasal secretions. Sinusitis is categorized as acute (sudden onset) or chronic (long term, the most common type).

Anatomy of the sinuses (also called paranasal sinuses): The human skull contains four major pairs of hollow air-filled cavities called sinuses. These are connected to the space between the nostrils and the nasal passage. Sinuses help insulate the skull, reduce its weight, and allow the voice to resonate within it.

The sinuses contain defenses against foreign viruses and bacteria (germs). If the normal defenses are disrupted, they may allow bacteria normally present in the nasal passages to enter any of the sinuses. Once there, the bacteria may stick to the lining cells and cause a sinus infection.

Acute sinusitis usually lasts less than eight weeks or occurs no more than three times per year with each episode lasting no longer than 10 days. Medications are usually effective against acute sinusitis. Successful treatment counteracts damage done to the mucous lining of the sinuses and surrounding bone of the skull.

Chronic sinusitis lasts longer than eight weeks or occurs more than four times per year with symptoms usually lasting more than 20 days.

The sinuses are covered with a mucus layer and cells that contain little hairs on their surfaces (cilia). These help trap and propel bacteria and pollutants outward.

Acute sinusitis usually follows a viral infection in the upper respiratory tract, but allergy-causing substances (allergens) or pollutants may also trigger acute sinusitis. Viral infection damages the cells of the sinus lining, leading to inflammation. The lining thickens, obstructing the nasal passage.

This passage connects to the sinuses. The obstruction disrupts the process that removes bacteria normally present in the nasal passages, and the bacteria begin to multiply and invade the lining of the sinus. This causes the symptoms of sinus infection. Allergens and pollutants produce a similar effect.

Bacteria that normally cause acute sinusitis are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. These microorganisms, along with Staphylococcus aureus and some anaerobes (bacteria that live without oxygen), are involved in chronic sinusitis.

Fungi are also becoming an increasing cause of chronic sinusitis, especially in people with diseases that weaken the immune system, such as AIDS, leukemia, and diabetes.



By: Alisha Dhamani

About the Author:

Connie