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Sinusitis
Does sinusitis cause coughing?
Sinusitis may cause coughing since the condition presents with various symptoms. Common symptoms include nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, headaches, dizziness, reduced sense of smell, and postnasal drip. Some patients may experience coughing, often due to the postnasal drip where secretions from the nasal cavity and nasopharynx flow into the throat, leading to an irritating cough, typically a dry cough. This secretion irritates the throat, causing itchiness and resulting in a cough. Additionally, sinusitis can induce pharyngitis as the ear, nose, and throat are interconnected. Sinusitis may lead to conditions such as otitis media (middle ear infection) and pharyngitis, which can directly cause coughing. Hence, it is necessary to seek timely medical treatment at a hospital upon the onset of symptoms.
What are the symptoms of acute sinusitis?
The symptoms of acute sinusitis are quite varied, with the most common ones being nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, headache, and dizziness. In severe cases, it may also cause facial swelling and numbness, but individual differences exist. Some patients may exhibit one or two of these symptoms, while others may have various additional symptoms, considering them comprehensively. Generally, it is primarily due to acute bacterial infection, and the main treatment is antibiotics to fight the infection. In addition, consideration can be given to combining traditional Chinese medicine and mucolytic agents for adjunctive treatment. Persistently rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution can also help in the recovery of the condition. Generally, the treatment period requires about one to two weeks and needs regular follow-up to monitor for any recurrence. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)
Can you smoke with sinusitis?
Patients with sinusitis are advised not to smoke, as cigarettes have a relatively strong irritation and may affect the treatment of sinusitis, as well as increase the degree of inflammatory response. Some patients may also suffer from acute upper respiratory tract infections. Therefore, patients with sinusitis should visit an ENT specialist as soon as they experience symptoms, undergo a nasal endoscopy and sinus CT scan to assess the severity of the condition. Most patients can consider conservative treatment. Common treatments include nasal spray medications, oral medications, and rinsing the nasal cavity with saline. Regular follow-ups during the treatment process are needed to observe the treatment effects.
Is sinusitis a serious illness?
Sinusitis is a common and frequently occurring disease in otolaryngology. Patients with sinusitis mainly suffer from blockages at the sinus openings due to polyps, tumors, and mucosal edema, which leads to pus and fluid accumulation within the sinuses. The primary symptoms in patients include nasal congestion, runny nose, headaches, and fever. For patients with sinusitis, the first step should be to use a paranasal sinus CT scan to make a definitive diagnosis of the disease and identify the affected sinus locations. Treatment can then involve the use of decongestants and corticosteroid medications to address symptoms. For sinusitis caused by foreign bodies or nasal polyps and tumors, surgical opening of the sinus openings can be performed to restore normal sinus drainage and cure the disease. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)
How to treat sinusitis
The treatment of sinusitis is mainly divided into two categories. The first category is conservative treatment, and the second is surgical treatment. Conservative treatment is primarily used for acute sinusitis or for chronic sinusitis when the inflammatory response is not particularly severe. Overall, most patients can effectively control inflammation, improve their condition, and relieve symptoms with conservative treatments such as oral medications, nasal sprays, and saline nasal irrigation. However, some patients have a more severe inflammatory response and do not respond well to conservative treatment, or they might have fungal sinusitis. In these cases, surgery is generally considered necessary, mainly involving minimally invasive endoscopic sinus surgery, which has proven to be quite effective and causes minimal damage.
Common symptoms of sinusitis
The symptoms of sinusitis can vary widely, primarily related to the extent of the inflammation and the patient's own immune resistance. It is possible to have no obvious clinical manifestations, mainly in those with good resistance and very mild inflammation. The patient may not experience any significant symptoms, and sinusitis might only be discovered through a sinus CT or a head CT. If the inflammatory response is more noticeable, symptoms may include nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, headache, dizziness, and a reduction or loss of smell. Some patients might also experience numbness and a feeling of pressure in the face. Diagnosis typically involves a sinus CT or nasopharyngeal examination, as well as direct visual observation of the nasal cavity and an overall assessment of the patient's condition, followed by targeted treatment.
How should sinusitis be treated?
Sinusitis is caused by acute inflammatory infections, mainly hemolytic streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus. Pathogens enter the sinuses through the sinus openings due to the patient catching a cold or having a flu, leading to congestion, swelling, hyperplasia, and exudation in the sinus mucosa. Symptoms include persistent nasal congestion, discharge of yellow secretions from the nasal cavity accompanied by a foul smell, and severe cases may also experience facial swelling, pain, and headaches. In terms of treatment, during the acute phase, patients need to first undergo symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment, taking oral antibiotics such as cephalosporins, which are very effective. Additionally, physiological saline is used for nasal and sinus irrigation. If conservative treatment is ineffective, patients may require endoscopic sinus surgery and sinus mucosa clearance for recovery. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
Can sinusitis be cured completely?
Sinusitis can be completely cured. Sinusitis, also known as rhinosinusitis, is a condition caused by bacterial infection due to weakened immunity and resistance. Typically, patients may experience sudden high fever with a body temperature above 38°C, dryness and pain in the nasal cavity, and yellow discharge might be present in the nose. Examination can reveal congestion and significant edema of the bilateral middle and inferior turbinates, and abnormal secretions may be found in the middle meatus or common nasal passage. In terms of treatment, since it is a bacterial infection, patients can orally take cephalosporin or penicillin antibiotics, which are effective. Additionally, nasal irrigation with saline solution is necessary. If conservative treatment fails, patients may need to undergo endoscopic sinus surgery and sinus mucosa cleaning to achieve complete recovery. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)
Is sinusitis serious?
Sinusitis is a relatively common otolaryngological disease and generally is not very severe. The main clinical symptoms include nasal congestion with thick nasal discharge, reduced sense of smell, headache, and dizziness. After onset, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngology department for a sinus CT scan to help determine the extent of the lesion. If the inflammatory response is localized and the clinical symptoms are mild, conservative medical treatment can be considered. Common treatments include oral medications and nasal sprays. During treatment, regular follow-ups are needed to observe the effects. If the inflammatory response is severe and conservative medical treatment is ineffective, surgical treatment may need to be considered.
How to treat sinusitis?
The treatment of sinusitis is mainly divided into two major categories. The first category is conservative treatment, and the second category is surgical treatment. Most patients consider conservative treatment because it can effectively control the condition and alleviate inflammation, and the overall effect is relatively good. In terms of medication, oral medications are primarily considered, commonly involving the use of antibiotics combined with nasal sprays and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. Additionally, physiological saline or seawater can be considered for nasal irrigation. Generally, the treatment period is about one to two weeks or more, and regular follow-ups are required. If it is fungal sinusitis, or if the effect of drug treatment for chronic sinusitis is not satisfactory, surgery may be considered. The surgery mainly involves minimally invasive sinus surgery under nasal endoscopy, which generally causes less damage and is quite effective.