Ethmoid Sinus

In the respiration process, the air entering the nasal passages is conditioned by the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, before it is passed to the remaining parts of the respiratory tract. Paranasal sinuses are spaces filled with air, that are located within the bone of the skull and face. As per the particular bone to which these sinuses lie, they are divided into four types. One of these is ethmoid sinus, present in the ethmoid bone. It is made up of ethmoidal air cells located discretely between the eyes and nose.

An Overview of Ethmoid Sinus

The functions of ethmoid sinuses are no different from other paranasal sinuses. With the hair like structures called cilia and mucus secreted by the mucosal lining, they help in filtering air that enters into the nasal cavity. Since ethmoid sinuses are directly exposed to incoming air, they are susceptible to pathogen attacks and other sinus problems. Thus, ethmoid sinus infections and diseases are quite common amongst the general population. Fortunately, personal hygiene and effective self care tips are effective to prevent from such sinus problems.

Anatomy
Coming to ethmoid sinus anatomy, it is made up of 7-10 interconnected bubble-like cavities, which are separated by a thin-walled bone. Similar to other sinuses, each of the cavities are lined by mucous membrane. They also have separate openings in the nasal cavity. Ethmoid sinuses are further classified into three groups with respect to location within the ethmoid bone, viz., anterior, middle and posterior. Though their openings differ, they drain in the nasal cavity.

Inflammation
Inflammation of the ethmoid sinus is brought about by constant irritation of the mucosal lining. The symptoms are swelling and inflammation of the sinus wall, which in turn, cause blockage of the cavities. Consequently, the normal draining of mucus is disturbed, leading to buildup of mucus in the cavities. If left unchecked, this accumulated mucus becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, virus or fungi. And the ultimate result is ethmoid sinusitis.

Infection
Infection of the ethmoid sinus is a common incidence, triggered by several factors like, environmental allergens, foreign particles, microbial infection (especially bacteria and virus), trauma, nasal polyps and tumors. Also known as ethmoiditis, it is an acute problem that usually lasts for 8 to 10 days. The notable signs of sinus infection are headache in the temple area, pain in the lower forehead, nasal congestion, sore throat, and fever. Ethmoid sinus pain is accompanied with pain behind the nose bridge and in the corner of the eyes.

Disease
In most cases, ethmoid sinus disease refers to sinusitis cases. They are not very serious and can be addressed effectively. Nevertheless, if sinus infection treatment is delayed, infection may spread to other sinuses and adjoining areas. A severe case is eye socket infection, which symptoms include droopy eye lids, swollen eyelids and high fever. For such a case, immediate medical attention is necessary to avoid blindness, meningitis and other complications.

Some people are more susceptible to ethmoid sinus problems than others. For them, personal cleanliness and precautionary measures are crucial to minimize risk of ethmoid sinus symptoms. People who have a chronic condition and those with a compromised immune system should go for yearly flu vaccination to prevent onset of ethmoid sinusitis. For existing problems that do not improve with regular medical therapy, the physician may recommend sinus surgery. Consuming a balanced diet and following healthy lifestyle habits are equally important to reduce episodes of sinus infections.