Signs and Symptoms of Sinus Infection

The term 'sinuses' refer to the paranasal sinuses, which are air-filled cavities, lined by the mucous membrane. They are located in and around the nose. There are four types of paranasal sinuses, viz. maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, and sphenoid. As the terms suggest, they are named after the facial bone type where they are located. The basic function of these sinuses is to moisten the nasal cavity, and warm inhaled air.

Sinus Infection: What Causes it?

Sinus infection, alternatively referred to as sinusitis, is an inflammation in the lining of the paranasal sinuses. Very often, it is associated with the upper respiratory tract infection. Sinusitis may occur due to infection by bacteria, virus, or fungi in the paranasal sinuses. Of these, bacterial and viral infections are responsible for maximum cases of sinus inflammation. And patients having common cold report sinusitis symptoms. In other words, sinus infection is often preceded by common cold.

Possible triggers of this discomfort condition are air pollutants, chemical irritants, other allergens, extreme climatic conditions, stress, dehydration, and excess smoking. Any form of allergy that negatively affects the immune system functioning may lead to swelling and inflammation of the sinuses. People having a compromised immune system and those who have had injury of the nasal bones and dental infection are more prone to sinusitis than others. Knowing sinusitis causes and triggers will help in preventing this annoying condition.

Sinus Infection: Signs and Symptoms

Infection to the paranasal sinuses is classified as infectious or non-infectious. The former is caused by infection of the sinuses, whereas allergies and environmental irritants cause non-infectious sinusitis. Sinus Infection is further classified into acute, sub-acute, and chronic, depending upon the duration of the ailment. Acute (sudden) sinusitis lasts for less than 4 weeks, sub-acute for about 4 – 6 weeks, and chronic (long-term) sinusitis usually lasts for more than 12 weeks.

Whatever may be the type of sinusitis diagnosed, symptoms are more or less the same. Of course, the manifested conditions of short-term infection differ slightly from the chronic one. Similar variation is expected, according to the type of sinus that is getting infected. So, how can one identify the signs and symptoms of sinus infection? Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses causes excess secretion of mucus, which blocks the nasal passages. This results in congestion, stuffiness, and other symptoms.

Acute Sinusitis Symptoms

• Nasal congestion
• Thick, yellow or greenish nasal discharge
• Sinus pain (specific to affected sinus)
• Sinus pressure (specific to affected sinus)
• Mild to severe headache
• Postnasal drip
• Running high temperature
• Vision disturbances (sphenoid sinusitis)
• Tender cheekbone (maxillary sinusitis)

Chronic Sinusitis Symptoms

• Chronic nasal congestion
• Chronic postnasal drip
• Cough (worse at night)
• Sore throat
• Bad breath
• Low-grade headache
• Tooth sensitivity (maxillary sinusitis)
• Sinus pressure (specific to affected sinus)

Thus, pain and pressure around the face are typical signs of sinus infection. They may worsen while bending forward, reclining, lying on back, or other head positions. The pain area is examined carefully for diagnosis of the affected sinus bone. Other signs include problem in breathing through nose, loss of smell, fatigue, and very rarely, a burning sensation in the eyes. For an allergy triggered sinusitis, the above symptoms may be accompanied with itchy eyes, watery eyes, clear mucus, and sneezing. In severe cases, sinus infection may lead to osteomyelitis, brain infection, and meningitis.

Sinus Infection: Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of sinusitis is done based on the symptoms, physical examination and medical history of the patient. Since the symptoms of sinusitis are similar to that of a common cold, the physician may conduct certain diagnostic tests such as microbial culture, endoscopic evaluation of the nasopharynx, and computed tomographic (CT) scan of the sinuses. Palpation and percussion of the face also help in identifying the affected paranasal sinus. This further helps in adopting correct treatment methods.

Sinus infection should be treated as early as possible, as there are chances that an acute sinusitis may lead to sub-acute or chronic conditions. The main objective of sinusitis treatment is to cure the infection (if any) and relieve the nasal congestion. For a patient of acute sinusitis, antibiotic therapy is recommended. One can also make use of decongestants (topical or oral) to clear the nasal passages. In addition, the physician may recommend adjunctive treatments, such as taking antihistamines, mucolytic agents, and corticosteroids.

According to a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine, it was shown that a daily nasal irrigation using hypertonic saline solution is an effective way for treating chronic sinusitis. A patient can put the saline solution in the nasal passages by using a squeeze bottle or a pump spray bottle. Another study reveals that nasal irrigation is most effective when followed during the infection outbreaks only, and not for a long-term period. This is because, the mucus contains helpful microbes that counteract the pathogens, thereby preventing onset of infections.

Though allopathic medications are effectual for treatment of sinus infection, there are several cases of recurrent sinusitis after completion of the treatment course. In order to get rid of sinus infection, most people prefer home remedies such as steam inhalation using licorice, ginger, and eucalyptus. Also, drinking lots of healthy fluids and taking steam bath are age-old remedies for sinusitis.