Sinusitis Symptoms: Causes and Treatments

All About Sinusitis Symptoms, Causes and Treatments 

Sinusitis is usually common among every individual across the globe. It is usually common among children, who often follow a cold or upper respiratory infection. Studies conducted by NCBI suggested that almost 5 to 13% of children suffer from sinusitis or upper respiratory tract infection. 

In this blog, we will discuss the common sinusitis symptoms and causes. Additionally, we will mention the different treatment methods for sinusitis in children and adults. 

What is Sinusitis?

Sinusitis is the inflammation of the tissues in your sinuses. These are the spaces in your forehead, cheeks and nose. Generally, these are filled with air in normal conditions; if there is any inflammation, it causes stuffiness, runny nose, and sometimes fevers. 

Seasonal allergies like Hay fever can cause sinusitis, leading to discomfort in the nasal area. Some of the common sinusitis symptoms include pain in your facial area, nasal congestion and potential ear pain. 

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What are the Symptoms of Sinusitis? 

The symptoms of sinusitis may vary among individuals and also by type. However, some of the most common sinusitis symptoms include:

Post Nasal Drip

This is also known as upper airway cough syndrome, which occurs in both children and adults. Due to prolonged infection in the sinus area, excessive mucus accumulates in the back of the throat. This causes excessive mucus dripping at the back of the throat. It is one of the most common symptoms of sinusitis in adults and children.  

Runny Nose

Discharge of the mucus from the nose is collectively known as runny nose or rhinorrhea. Mucus colour can vary based on the onset of infection, ranging from thick to yellow-green. It can occur alongside other symptoms like sneezing, postnasal drip, and nasal congestion.  

Stuffy Nose

It occurs when the tissues lining the nasal passages become swollen and inflamed. This makes it difficult to breathe through the nose. Excessive mucus accumulation can cause a stuffy nose in adults, while upper respiratory tract infection in children might lead to a stuffy nose.  

Facial Pressure

Facial pressure or sense of fullness is one of the most chronic ethmoid sinusitis symptoms. Inflammation or swelling of the sinus tissues, potentially leading to blockages and fluid buildup. Sometimes nasal polyps can worsen the sinusitis, leading to pressure and pain inside the cheek, eyes and nose.    

Pain in the Teeth

Toothache is one of the most severe sinusitis symptoms, especially in the upper back teeth. This happens because the roots of the teeth are connected to the maxillary sinuses. Inflammation of the maxillary sinus tissues can irritate the neural endings of the teeth.    

Pain or Pressure in the Ear

Though the signs and symptoms of sinusitis differ among individuals, immunocompromised people sometimes suffer from ear pain or tinnitus. Sinus infection can worsen ear pain due to pressure changes in the middle ear due to inflammation and congestion.    

Fever

It is the common symptom of sinusitis due to the onset of infection in the body. Though it is a normal immunological response, increased body temperature can still worsen sinusitis. Fever is common in bacterial sinusitis, but it is less observed in chronic sinusitis. 

Bad Breath

Halitosis or bad breath is one of the most common chronic ethmoid sinusitis symptoms, especially in adults. Infected mucus drips down to the back of the throat, where the exhaling air meets with the mucus layers. Thus, the foul odour of the infection mixes with the breath, leading to a foul breath.

Cough

An inflamed sinus can sometimes cause throat irritation, which eventually causes a cough, especially at night. The constant dripping of mucus is one of the chronic frontal sinusitis symptoms leading to a cough reflex. 

What Causes Sinusitis?

Sinus infections generally occur due to various environmental and physiological factors. This mainly includes: 

● Abnormalities in the nose.
● Enlarged Adenoids
● Seasonal Allergens
● Bacterias like Streptococcus pneumoniae
● Viruses like Haemophilus influenzae

These factors directly and indirectly affect an individual's immune system, leading to serious complications if left untreated.

Also Read: Gonorrhoea Symptoms

Different Sinusitis Symptoms Based on their Types 

Usually, four types of sinusitis are prevalent among children and adults based on the duration of the symptoms. They are as follows:

Acute Sinusitis 

The acute sinusitis symptoms include nasal congestion, drainage, facial pain/pressure and loss of smell. Symptoms usually last less than 4 weeks and can be recovered with proper treatment. Acute sinusitis is generally caused by the Rhinovirus, which also causes common cold and flu. 

● Sometimes, if the infection is chronic, symptoms like headache or fever, post nasal drip, and cough can be experienced in adults. 
● The application of nasal corticosteroids can be an effective remedy for treating acute sinusitis or seasonal allergies. 

Subacute Sinusitis

Common symptoms include facial pain and pressure, postnasal drip, cough, and swelling around the eye, especially in the morning. Infections do not go away initially after the treatment. 

● It usually lasts for more than 4 to 8 weeks and needs special care and attention during the incubation phase. 
● Treatment includes saline nasal irrigation, decongestants, and antibiotics if there are any persisting bacterial infections.   

Chronic Sinusitis

Symptoms are reduced sense of smell and taste, cough, fatigue, and stuffiness. Cheeks and nose become swollen for an extended period (especially 12 weeks or longer). 

● These include nasal polyps, structural abnormalities of the nose, and certain medical conditions like asthma and cystic fibrosis. 
● Antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids are mainly used for the treatment of bilateral maxillary sinusitis symptoms. 

These medications are widely popular and can be used for better recovery from sinusitis. 

Recurrent Sinusitis 

Recurrent sinusitis is characterised by multiple episodes of acute sinusitis within a year. This is caused by environmental irritants and fungal and bacterial invasion within the immune system.  
Other Types of Sinusitis Based and Their Symptoms
Apart from the above-mentioned types of sinusitis, there are other types, which we will discuss in detail below:

Bacterial Sinusitis

It is usually caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumonia and Moraxella catarrhalis. 
Bacterial sinusitis symptoms include thick nasal discharge (which may be yellow or green), congestion, and sometimes fever, fatigue, and cough. Deviated septum or nasal polyps can increase the risk of bacterial infection followed by any viral infection. 

Viral Sinusitis

A viral infection can precede a bacterial infection by inflaming the inner mucus layer of the sinus. This is mainly caused by Rhinoviruses within the different sections of the sinuses. 
When the sinus becomes inflamed, mucus production also increases. This ends up in blocking the sinuses. Blockage of the sinus leads to pain in these regions and stuffiness in the head and nose.  

Fungal Sinusitis

Infection in the inner lining of the sinuses due to a fungal invasion is known as fungal sinusitis. Several types of fungal sinusitis can cause serious health problems in immune-compromised patients. 

A weak immune system increases the risk of complications from fungal sinusitis. The major types of fungal sinusitis include:

● Invasive : These fungal infections can spread into other regions like the brain and eyes. Fungal buildup can cause serious complications if left untreated for a long period.
● Non-invasive : Fungal infection that affects only the nasal regions and sinus areas. Allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps, and asthma are the common fungal sinusitis symptoms.  

Maxillary Sinusitis

This infection is caused in the maxillary region of the sinus. Maxillary sinuses are located in the cheekbones below the eyes. Acute maxillary sinusitis symptoms include toothache, headache, and pressure in the cheeks. 
Prolonged exposure to sun rays or any kind of seasonal changes can worsen the maxillary sinusitis symptoms. Antibiotic and antihistamine treatments are necessary for the treatment of maxillary sinusitis. 

Sphenoid Sinusitis

Infection or inflammation in the sphenoid bone causes sphenoid sinusitis. Sphenoid bones are located behind the nose and the eyes. 
On the contrary, sinus congestion can cause sphenoid sinusitis symptoms like headaches that worsen while lying down and potential neck pain during the night. Painkillers and antibiotics are primarily used to treat sphenoid sinusitis.   

Frontal Sinusitis 

Infection in the proximity of the frontal sinus due to any bacterial or viral invasion. Frontal sinuses are located in the forehead, below the eyebrows. Pain in the forehead, fatigue and fever are the common frontal sinusitis symptoms.  

Ethmoid Sinusitis 

Ethmoid sinusitis is the inflammation of specific tissues of the sinuses. This region is filled with mucus that prevents the nose from drying out. Common ethmoid sinusitis symptoms are nausea, sore throat, and dizziness.

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How to Diagnose Sinusitis?

Here we will discuss the diagnostic approaches for sinusitis:

Physical Examination

Physical examination of the nasal anatomy by the doctor to identify the area of infection is the primary type of diagnosis.   

Diagnostic Tests

If it is not possible to identify the infected region due to any kind of complications, then tests like MRI and CT scans can be done to identify the signs and symptoms of sinusitis in adults and children.
Diagnostic tests may depend on your condition. So, it is necessary to consult with the physician before going for the tests. 

Management and Treatment of Sinusitis

Sinusitis management and treatment are generally dependent on its type. The most common and effective procedures are:  

Home Remedies

Home remedies include saline nasal irrigation, and drinking plenty of fluids can help thin the mucus. Using humidifiers or steam inhalation can help in draining mucus. Additionally, taking adequate rest will help in fighting the infection.  

Prescribed Medications

Nasal steroid sprays or decongestants are the most common medications for the treatment of non-infectious sinusitis symptoms. Antihistamines and pain relievers can manage pain due to bacterial or viral infections in the sinus.

Surgery   

In case the non-surgical procedures do not help, in a few cases, doctors can recommend surgery, such as functional endoscopic sinus surgery or FESS. This helps remove polyps and blocked sinuses. 
 

The Bottom Line

Sinusitis is a common seasonal problem that occurs in both adults and children. Most common sinusitis symptoms like nasal blockage and post-nasal drip cause discomfort and irritation. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the risk of further complications due to sinusitis.