Many people with sinus problems usually caused by allergies, colds or other causes have symptoms of a stuffed up nose or headache. These are usually signs and symptoms of sinus a infection. The medical term for a sinus infection is sinusitis. Sinus infections afflict many, many people every year. Sinus infection symptoms are usually mild to severe headaches in the sinus area behind the eyes, forehead and cheek bones, in addition to a "stuffed up nose". There are many over the counter sinus infection treatments, or a person can see his regular physician or an allergist to take further steps to treat them better or prevent them.
What is a Sinus Infection?
Signs and symptoms of sinus infection are caused by an infection and the resulting swelling caused by the bacteria within the sinus cavities. The sinuses are cavities (openings) in continuous connection with the nasal openings in order for both air and mucous to flow free. It also gives our voice a certain sound. When a sinus is blocked (or stuffed) because of swelling and infection the air already inside the sinuses causes pressure and the result is a sinus headache.
In addition in this situation (swollen nasal passages and sinuses), there is also air that is unable to get into the sinus and this is another reason for sinus pain. Sinus infection treatment is usually a sinus spray that is sometimes prescribed and sometimes gotten over the counter. These sprays provide treatment that kills the bacteria, and other microbes that are causing the various sinus infection symptoms.
What causes sinus infections?
There are many different causes of sinusitis. One cause would be anything that blocks the passages in the openings of the passages a growth or tumor that needs to be removed surgically. Sometimes over the counter nasal sprays can not only cause infection, but can also be addictive. Cocaine and other illegal drugs that are snorted through the nasal passages can also cause irritation and sinus infection.
There are also various kinds of bacteria that can also cause sinus infections. In addition the cilia, which are small hairs in the nasal passages and sinus cavities that help to move mucous out of the nasal area, can get damaged by smoke, lack of humidity or other causes. When this happens the mucous stagnates and becomes a perfect area for bacteria to grow and start an infection. Allergies to food and other substances can also be a cause of food allergies.
Types of Sinus infection
Sinus infections are classified in two different ways, length of time and whether they are infectious or not. There are Acute-lasting less than a month, Sub-acute-lasting from 1-3 months long, and Chronic- which are those infections that have lasted longer than 3 months. Infectious sinus infections are generally caused by a virus, but less often they can be caused by a bacterial infection. Non-infectious are generally caused by either allergies or environmental irritations, such as smoke or drug (legal or otherwise) use. Sub-acute and chronic conditions are usually caused by insufficient or lack of treatment for acute sinusitis.
Signs and Symptoms of Sinusitis
The usual symptoms are headache, facial tenderness, and as few as 25% of patients with acute sinusitis have fever associated with it. Sore throat, coughing, and a cloudy, greenish or yellowish nasal discharge are few common signs of Sinusitis.
Some additional signs that the doctor will check for in order to diagnose sinusitis are swollen areas around the eyes, nasal passages that have become reddened, facial areas over the sinuses that are tender to percussion (tapping) and drainage from the nose that is similar to pus. Sometimes additional information is used to diagnose this information, such as patient history, and certain tests such as a CT scan or MRI might also be performed because these tests are far better at revealing the actual infection than an X-Ray.
Treatment of Sinusitis
Treatment usually consists of the patient beginning with over the counter fever/headache medications such as Tylenol (Acetaminophen) and if the symptoms are not gone within a week then the physician will assume that it is a bacterial infection and then provided the appropriate antibiotic. Usually the patient must remain on antibiotics for at least 10-14 days.
Sometimes, the antibiotics need to be continued up to 21 days if the infection is chronic. However extremely chronic infections sometimes do not respond to a regular course of prescription medication and the patient may respond better to either a longer course of medication or may even need to be physically drained. This is a surgical procedure and will require a hospital stay.
While it doesn’t happen very often, there are times that complications can set in. It is possible with chronic sinusitis that the situation may arise that the infection may extend into the brain and cause an infection there and eventually cause death. However, as was stated earlier, this is a rare occurrence and does not happen frequently.
Sinusitis is usually a very easily treated disease if treatment is sought in a timely manner and the proper treatment is provided. If the conditions returns often it is advised that the patient attempt to determine if an allergy is the cause.
What is a Sinus Infection?
Signs and symptoms of sinus infection are caused by an infection and the resulting swelling caused by the bacteria within the sinus cavities. The sinuses are cavities (openings) in continuous connection with the nasal openings in order for both air and mucous to flow free. It also gives our voice a certain sound. When a sinus is blocked (or stuffed) because of swelling and infection the air already inside the sinuses causes pressure and the result is a sinus headache.
In addition in this situation (swollen nasal passages and sinuses), there is also air that is unable to get into the sinus and this is another reason for sinus pain. Sinus infection treatment is usually a sinus spray that is sometimes prescribed and sometimes gotten over the counter. These sprays provide treatment that kills the bacteria, and other microbes that are causing the various sinus infection symptoms.
What causes sinus infections?
There are many different causes of sinusitis. One cause would be anything that blocks the passages in the openings of the passages a growth or tumor that needs to be removed surgically. Sometimes over the counter nasal sprays can not only cause infection, but can also be addictive. Cocaine and other illegal drugs that are snorted through the nasal passages can also cause irritation and sinus infection.
There are also various kinds of bacteria that can also cause sinus infections. In addition the cilia, which are small hairs in the nasal passages and sinus cavities that help to move mucous out of the nasal area, can get damaged by smoke, lack of humidity or other causes. When this happens the mucous stagnates and becomes a perfect area for bacteria to grow and start an infection. Allergies to food and other substances can also be a cause of food allergies.
Types of Sinus infection
Sinus infections are classified in two different ways, length of time and whether they are infectious or not. There are Acute-lasting less than a month, Sub-acute-lasting from 1-3 months long, and Chronic- which are those infections that have lasted longer than 3 months. Infectious sinus infections are generally caused by a virus, but less often they can be caused by a bacterial infection. Non-infectious are generally caused by either allergies or environmental irritations, such as smoke or drug (legal or otherwise) use. Sub-acute and chronic conditions are usually caused by insufficient or lack of treatment for acute sinusitis.
Signs and Symptoms of Sinusitis
The usual symptoms are headache, facial tenderness, and as few as 25% of patients with acute sinusitis have fever associated with it. Sore throat, coughing, and a cloudy, greenish or yellowish nasal discharge are few common signs of Sinusitis.
Some additional signs that the doctor will check for in order to diagnose sinusitis are swollen areas around the eyes, nasal passages that have become reddened, facial areas over the sinuses that are tender to percussion (tapping) and drainage from the nose that is similar to pus. Sometimes additional information is used to diagnose this information, such as patient history, and certain tests such as a CT scan or MRI might also be performed because these tests are far better at revealing the actual infection than an X-Ray.
Treatment of Sinusitis
Treatment usually consists of the patient beginning with over the counter fever/headache medications such as Tylenol (Acetaminophen) and if the symptoms are not gone within a week then the physician will assume that it is a bacterial infection and then provided the appropriate antibiotic. Usually the patient must remain on antibiotics for at least 10-14 days.
Sometimes, the antibiotics need to be continued up to 21 days if the infection is chronic. However extremely chronic infections sometimes do not respond to a regular course of prescription medication and the patient may respond better to either a longer course of medication or may even need to be physically drained. This is a surgical procedure and will require a hospital stay.
While it doesn’t happen very often, there are times that complications can set in. It is possible with chronic sinusitis that the situation may arise that the infection may extend into the brain and cause an infection there and eventually cause death. However, as was stated earlier, this is a rare occurrence and does not happen frequently.
Sinusitis is usually a very easily treated disease if treatment is sought in a timely manner and the proper treatment is provided. If the conditions returns often it is advised that the patient attempt to determine if an allergy is the cause.
by: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sinusitis-sinus-infection-symptoms-treatment.html
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