Symptoms of Sinus Infection

Sinuses are four pairs of hollow spaces or air-filled cavities present in the facial bones, lined with mucous membrane and connected to nose. Sinuses facilitate free airflow within the spaces in and out of nose. An inflammation of sinuses and nasal passage is referred to as sinus infection or sinusitis. Acute sinusitis occurs less frequently and lasts less than 8 weeks. Subacute sinusitis lasts for about 4-12 weeks. Chronic sinusitis occurs more than four times every year and lasts longer than 8 weeks. Sinusitis is usually associated with bacterial and viral infections. Every year, about 30-40 million people suffer from sinus infection in the United States.

Causes of Sinus Infection

Sinus infection is caused mainly by an interference with airflow into the sinuses and drainage of mucous out of sinuses. Because of obstruction of sinus openings, there is swelling of tissue lining and adjacent nasal passage tissue. Acute sinusitis is caused by viral infection such as common cold, bacterial infections and fungal infections. Certain health conditions such as allergies, nasal polyps or tumors and deviated nasal septum can increase the risk of sinusitis. People with the diseases such as leukemia, AIDS or diabetes, which weaken the immune system, are at a higher risk of sinus infection. Chronic sinusitis is associated with asthma and allergies. Some other common causes of sinusitis are nasal infection, nasal bone spurs, dental infections, swimming in infected water, cystic fibrosis and history of asthma.

Symptoms of Sinusitis

The most common symptoms of sinus infection are headache, facial pain or tenderness and fever. It also causes cloudy nasal drainage, sore throat, a feeling of nasal stuffiness and cough. Sinus headache is due to a blockage of sinuses. There may be different symptoms in acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis.

Symptoms of Acute Sinusitis: Some of the symptoms of acute sinusitis are fever, nasal congestion, nasal discharge, headache, pressure around the sinus cavities, facial pain or soreness, mucus drainage down the back of the throat and vision problems. In case of acute maxillary sinusitis (behind the cheekbones), there is pain across the cheekbones, around the upper teeth and around the eyes. Cheekbones are red, swollen and tender. In case of frontal sinusitis (behind forehead, one or both sides), a person may experience severe headaches in the forehead, nasal discharge and fever. Pain worsens when reclining and subsides with the head upright. Acute sphenoid sinusitis starts behind the eyes. It causes the symptoms such as deep headache, nasal discharge, fever, vision disturbances or double vision.

Symptoms of Chronic Sinusitis: Chronic sinusitis causes the symptoms such as pressure across nasal passages, chronic nasal discharge, chronic sore throat, pain below the eyes, prolonged headache, prolonged facial pain and toothache. In case of ethmoid sinusitis, a person suffers from chronic nasal discharge, chronic sore throat, bad breath and obstruction and low-grade discomfort across the nasal bridge. Chronic maxillary sinusitis causes pressure and discomfort below the eyes, flu, colds, chronic toothaches and increased discomfort with increased cough. Chronic frontal sinusitis causes the symptoms such as persistent, low-grade headache in the forehead.

The diagnosis of sinus infection is done on the basis of different tests and investigations such as nasal endoscopy, imaging tests such as CT scan, ultrasound and MRI scan, nasal and sinus cultures and allergy tests. The treatment for sinusitis is aimed to manage the symptoms and a speedy recovery. Various treatment options include saline nasal spray to rinse the nasal passages, nasal corticosteroids, decongestants and over-the-counter pain relievers. The treatment also includes use of antibiotics and antifungal medications in order to cure bacterial, viral and fungal infections, which are one of the causes of sinusitis. Immunotherapy is also used to reduce the allergies. However, you can prevent sinus infection by taking an appropriate treatment for upper respiratory tract infections and by managing the allergies. You also should avoid smoking. Use of a humidifier is beneficial if you are living in the dry atmosphere. Adding moisture to the air through humidifier help prevent sinus infection.