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Sinusitis
How to check for sinusitis?
The examination for sinusitis is mainly divided into three major categories. The first category is visual inspection. The second is endoscopic examination, and the third is radiologic examination. Visual inspection mainly involves directly observing with the naked eye the mucosa inside the nasal cavity, the inferior turbinate, and assessing the presence of thick nasal mucus. For some patients, a basic diagnosis can be made through visual inspection alone. However, for other patients whose conditions are not very clear, it becomes necessary to use endoscopic examinations, such as nasal endoscopy or fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy, to visually inspect the interior of the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx for any abnormalities. If the inflammation is severe and conservative medical treatment is ineffective, it may also be necessary to consider a CT scan of the sinuses to make a clearer and more accurate diagnosis.
What medicine is good for sinusitis?
Sinusitis is mainly caused by acute inflammatory infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. When a patient's immunity and resistance are low, these bacteria can invade the sinuses through the sinus openings, leading to congestion, swelling, proliferation, and exudation of the sinus mucosa. Patients will experience persistent nasal congestion and discharge of yellow purulent secretions from the nasal cavity. Additionally, patients may also experience fever, facial swelling and pain, headaches, dry mouth, coughing, and other related symptoms. Upon examination, bilateral nasal turbinate mucosal congestion and swelling can be found, and yellow secretions may be seen adhering in the middle nasal meatus or common nasal passage. In terms of treatment, as it is a bacterial infection, patients firstly need symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment. Oral cephalosporin antibiotics are effective. Moreover, using saline to rinse the nasal cavity also provides very good results. If necessary, patients may require endoscopic sinus surgery for recovery. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)
Can sinusitis heal on its own?
Sinusitis may recover on its own. This primarily depends on the extent of the specific inflammatory responses, as well as clinical symptoms and the patient's own immunity. If the sinusitis is very mild, the clinical symptoms are not severe, and the patient's immunity is relatively strong, recovery is indeed possible. Additionally, with acute sinusitis, some patients naturally tend to recover on their own. However, in cases of chronic sinusitis or severe inflammatory responses in acute sinusitis, where symptoms like nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, headaches, and dizziness are more pronounced, it is generally advisable to consider timely medical treatment. It may also be beneficial to incorporate saline nasal washes and schedule regular follow-up examinations to observe effects.
What should be paid attention to with sinusitis?
The precautions for sinusitis mainly include the following aspects: First, it is important to determine the degree and type of sinusitis. Currently, sinusitis is primarily classified into two main types: fungal sinusitis and bacterial sinusitis. It is recommended to assess the severity of the inflammation. For mild inflammation, conservative treatment is generally considered. For severe inflammation or fungal sinusitis, surgery may be necessary. Second, it is important to take precautions in daily life to avoid exacerbating sinusitis, especially by avoiding colds and opting for a lighter diet. Third, monitor the recovery of sinusitis in daily life and check for any possible complications. Therefore, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngology (ENT) clinic regularly for follow-up.
How to alleviate sinusitis?
The acute phase of sinusitis largely depends on the extent of the inflammation. If the inflammation is mild and the symptoms are atypical or slight, saline nasal irrigation can be considered. If the inflammatory reaction is severe and accompanied by clear symptoms like nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, headaches, and dizziness, then medical treatment should be considered. Generally, the treatment consists primarily of oral antibiotics, along with traditional Chinese medicines and mucolytics, supplemented with nasal sprays. Regular follow-ups are advised, and the treatment period usually ranges from one to two weeks. If standardized medication does not work, or in the case of fungal sinusitis, surgery may be necessary.
What is acute sinusitis?
Acute sinusitis is an acute inflammatory response of the sinuses caused by a sudden bacterial infection. Clinically, the most common sites of lesion are the maxillary sinuses and ethmoid sinuses, though some patients may also experience inflammation in the frontal sinuses or sphenoid sinuses. The main symptoms include sudden nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, headaches, dizziness, and reduced sense of smell. If the inflammatory response is particularly severe, it may also affect vision or cause fever and a feeling of heaviness in the head. Overall, it is considered to be an acute inflammatory response, primarily treated clinically with antibiotics to counter the infection, along with the use of nasal sprays and nasal irrigation, typically with saline solution. Regular follow-up checks are required, and the recovery period generally lasts about one to two weeks. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor based on specific circumstances.)
What are the symptoms of sinusitis?
The symptoms of sinusitis vary significantly between individuals. In cases of mild inflammation, there may be no symptoms, and the condition might only be discovered during a physical examination or through a head or sinus CT scan. However, in some patients with more severe inflammatory reactions, clinical symptoms can occur. Common clinical symptoms include nasal congestion, thick nasal discharge, reduced sense of smell, headache, dizziness, as well as potential facial pain, numbness, and vertigo. Some individuals may also experience changes in vision or field of vision. Generally, sinusitis is a common disease. Usually, it can be diagnosed based on clinical symptoms and examination of the nasal cavity. Some patients may need to undergo a CT scan, and in severe cases, surgery might be considered necessary.
How should sinusitis be treated?
The treatment of sinusitis should be based on the specific conditions of each patient, and different treatment plans can generally be divided into two categories. The first is conservative treatment. Conservative treatment mainly includes medication and some local nasal irrigation or puncture methods. This type of conservative treatment generally has good effects, and can relieve the pain and alleviate the symptoms of most patients with sinusitis. Apart from conservative treatment, The second method is surgical treatment. Surgical treatment now involves the reconstruction of nasal and sinus function under endoscopy. This type of surgical treatment can also be considered a minimally invasive and precise treatment plan. However, despite being minimally invasive and precise, it is still a surgery and does involve some trauma. Therefore, surgical treatment is only considered when conservative treatment is ineffective. Surgical treatment is just the beginning of a systematic approach to treating sinusitis. It can be understood this way: after the surgery, the follow-up medication treatment, which is a set of conservative treatment plans, and regular check-ups need to be promptly followed up. Reliance solely on surgical treatment may not achieve particularly ideal long-term effects.
Is sinusitis the same as rhinitis?
There are differences between rhinitis and sinusitis. Rhinitis is mainly the inflammation of the nasal mucosa, while sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinus cavity mucosa. The main clinical symptoms of rhinitis are nasal congestion and a runny nose. This runny nose is mostly mucous or watery, which is typically seen in allergic rhinitis. The runny nose in sinusitis, on the other hand, is often a thick yellow discharge caused by a bacterial infection, so there is a distinction between the two. Patients with sinusitis often have rhinitis, but those with rhinitis do not necessarily have sinusitis. Rhinitis is primarily treated with medications and rarely with surgery. For sinusitis, treatment also begins with medications; however, if the response to medical therapy is poor or the condition is severe, surgery is often considered. The likelihood of undergoing surgical intervention is generally higher for sinusitis than for rhinitis.
What is the method for examining sinusitis?
Sinusitis refers to the inflammation that occurs in the mucous membrane or cavity of the sinuses. Clinically, the examination of sinusitis includes two aspects: one is the clinical examination, such as anterior rhinoscopy to inspect the nasal cavity, nasal endoscopy to inspect the nasal cavity, the opening of the sinuses, and the nasal passages; on the other hand, some imaging examinations can also be used, such as sinus CT examination, which is very important, and if necessary, sinus MRI can also be performed; there are also some other examination methods, such as nasal resistance examination, examination of sinus and nasal secretions, etc. Therefore, there are quite a few examination methods, among all the examination methods, the most important are the nasal endoscopy and sinus CT examination.