Sinusitis

What is Sinusitis?

Sinusitis is inflammation of the air cavities within the passages of the nose. Sinusitis can be caused by infection, but also can be caused by allergies and chemical or particulate irritation of the sinuses.

Sinuses are the air chambers in the bone behind your cheeks, eyebrows and jaw. They make mucus, a fluid that cleans bacteria and other particles out of the air you breathe. Tiny hairs called cilia that sweep mucus out of your sinuses so it can drain out through your nose.

Affection of the sinuses causes pain in the region of the cheekbones and forehead besides many other symptoms such as nasal obstruction, impaired breathing, fever, etc.

What are the types of Sinusitis?

Types of Sinusitis are as follows:

  • Acute Sinusitis:  It is the type of Sinusitis that lasts up to 4 weeks
  • Sub acute Sinusitis: This type lasts for 4 to 12 weeks
  • Chronic Sinusitis:  In this type of Sinusitis, it lasts for more than 12 weeks and can continue for months or even years
  • Recurrent Sinusitis:  Here there are several attacks of Sinusitis within a year.

What are the Risk Factors of Sinusitis?

  • Changes in Temperature
  • Allergies
  • Use of decongestant nasal sprays swimming diving can also increase the risk of Sinusitis
  • Smoking
  • People having Polyps can also worsen the condition

What are the causes of Sinusitis?

Common causes of Sinusitis are as follows:

  • Infections like Viruses, bacteria fungal infection
  • Excessive blowing of nose
  • Foreign objects in the nostril (especially in children)
  • Tooth caries
  • Side effects of few drugs
  • Scuba Diving, swimming
  • Facial injury
  • Reduced immunity
  • Medical conditions like GERD 

What are the Symptoms of Sinusitis?

Few of the symptoms of sinusitis are given below;

  • Symptoms of sinusitis can include fever, weakness, fatigue, cough, and congestion with pain in the region of the affected sinus.
  • There may also be mucus drainage in the back of the throat, called postnasal drip.
  • Nasal congestion and discharge that may be yellowish or greenish with cough with production of mucus
  • Bad breath, bad taste in mouth at times
  • Reduced sense of smell/ taste
  • Headache
  • Toothache
  • Tiredness
  • Weakness

Pain and tenderness due to sinusitis may vary in location depending on the sinus that is affected in a given case:

  • Frontal sinusitis:   Pain in forehead region, around eyebrows
  • Maxillary sinusitis:   Pain in cheekbones, upper jaw, upper teeth on applying pressure
  • Ethmoid sinusitis:   Pain between the eyes, around the bridge of the nose. There may be swelling of the eyelids.
  • Sphenoid sinusitis:   Pain deep inside the head, ear pain, neck pain.

 

Diagnosis of Sinusitis:

Diagnosis of Sinusitis is usually done by physical examination.

A physical examination done by the physician will rule out or confirm conditions such as nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum, nasal tumor, dental caries, etc. that can be a cause of sinusitis. Tenderness of the sinus, pain over the region will diagnose the condition.

Certain investigations may be done to confirm sinusitis thought these are rarely done:

  • X-ray of sinuses to detect infection, obstruction, tumors, etc.
  • Nasal endoscopy: This procedure involves the passage of a thin, flexible fiber-optic tube (endoscope) through the nose into the sinuses in order to examine the interior of the sinuses.
  • Computerized Tomography scan (CT scan) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can reveal the finer details of the sinuses especially those that are not detected by an endoscope.
  • Allergy tests may be done to rule out any kind of allergies

Treatment for Sinusitis:

  • Homeopathy has been successfully used for the treatment of sinusitis for many years now and has clearly proved its efficacy in a number of cases as well as research studies conducted on the same.
  • What needs to be treated in sinusitis is not only the acute infection or inflammation, but also the inherent tendency to have sinusitis repeatedly.
  • Individual tendency to frequent upper respiratory infections or sinusitis can best be treated with Homeopathic approach of individualistic treatment.
  • Recurring sinusitis finds wonderful treatment with homeopathy.
  • Homeopathy treats acute infections as well as the tendency to have infections or allergy.
  • It can help in preventing the need for frequent antibiotics, decongestants, etc. that only tend to provide temporary relief. Homeopathy may also help in avoiding the need for endoscopic sinus surgery for sinusitis as far as possible.
  • Regular treatment with Homeopathy can improve the immunity of individuals so that they do not fall prey to recurrent attacks of sinusitis.
  • All in all, Homeopathy is strongly suggested for all sinusitis patients and the earlier they opt for treatment, the better the results.

 

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