Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Chronic Sinusitis
If your doctor has told you that you have chronic sinusitis, you may be wondering just exactly what that means.
Chronic sinusitis, also known as chronic rhinosinusitis, is a fairly common medical condition that occurs when the sinuses become swollen and inflamed, leading to a mucous buildup in the nose. Inflammation of the sinuses is very common-- as in the common cold-- but chronic sinusitis is markedly different. While colds last for only a couple of weeks, chronic sinusitis lasts over eight weeks or more.
If you have chronic sinusitis, your doctor may recommend you to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist who can assess your symptoms, determine the cause, and recommend a course of treatment for your condition.
Symptoms of Chronic Sinusitis
The symptoms of chronic sinusitis are similar to the symptoms of the common cold, including:
- Stuffy nose
- Swollen area around your eyes and face
- Headaches
- Drainage of think, yellow discharge from nose and back of throat
Again, while these symptoms may seem similar to acute sinusitis, they are markedly different because of the amount of time that they persist for. Other symptoms may include:
- Pain in the upper jaw or ear
- Significant fatigue
- Coughing or sore throat
- Nausea
- Bad breath
Causes of Chronic Sinusitis
While the symptoms of chronic sinusitis are similar, the cause of these symptoms can vary widely. The condition may be caused by:
- A deviated nasal septum
- Nasal polyps
- Chronic allergies
- Immune disorders including cystic fibrosis and HIV
- Respiratory tract infections
Your ENT specialist will determine what the cause of your chronic sinusitis through an exam of your nasal passages. They may use an endoscopy, a thin tube with a camera on the end, to exam you nose for nasal polyps or a deviated septum if they rule out other causes of your condition, such as allergies or a respiratory tract infection.
Treatment
Some of these conditions can be treated with medication and other remedies. If your chronic sinusitis is cause by allergies, your doctor may recommend options like nasal irrigation, decongestants, nasal corticosteroids, and over the counter decongestants.In the case of nasal polyps, your ENT specialist will recommend a nasal corticosteroid and possibly oral corticosteroids. The steroids are intended to reduce inflammation and shrink or eliminate the nasal polyps. In other cases, nasal polyps may require surgery.
Chronic sinusitis is not a condition that you should attempt to treat yourself. If you've been experiencing sinus symptoms for over two months, you should contact your doctor or an ENT specialist as soon as possible. There are many different causes for this condition, and each is treated differently.
Many of the causes of chronic sinusitis can be effectively treated just with oral medication. Even if surgery is required, it is usually minimally invasive and an outpatient procedure. Get true relief of your symptoms by making sure you're receiving the right medical treatment. If you're exhibiting the symptoms of chronic sinusitis, visit your doctor as soon as possible.
As a leading provider of compassionate, highly qualified healthcare services, board certified physicians and specialists at Accent MD offer residents of Gainesville and North Florida the most comprehensive healthcare services under one roof.
In addition to Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, Accent MD also offers everything from vision care, cataract surgery, audiology, thyroid care center and ENT services.
Doctors, nurses and staff at Accent Physician Specialists take the time to listen to you and provide treatment options suitable to your individual situation. To request an appointment, please call 352-372-9414.