What is the method for examining sinusitis?

Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 21, 2024
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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.

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What is sinusitis?

Sinusitis is a nonspecific inflammation of the sinus mucosa, a common and frequently occurring illness. Its onset is often due to diseases of the nasal cavity such as nasal polyps, allergic rhinitis, deviated nasal septum, hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates, or nasal cavity tumors that block the sinus ostia, all of which can lead to sinusitis. Patients with sinusitis typically experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, and headaches. Usually, a diagnosis requires sinus CT scans, either plain or enhanced, to confirm the occurrence of sinusitis. Once diagnosed, most cases of sinusitis can be alleviated with oral medication. However, a small number of patients who are difficult to cure may need surgery to open the sinus ostia and maintain drainage, thus curing the sinusitis.

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How to deal with frontal headache caused by sinusitis?

In the acute phase, symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment is needed, which can be administered orally or intravenously through antibiotics, whereas chronic sinusitis requires local surgical treatment. The frontal headache caused by sinusitis is generally common in frontal sinusitis. Frontal sinusitis is a common type of sinusitis which occurs when the body's immunity is lowered, allowing bacteria to invade along the opening of the frontal sinuses, thus affecting the mucous membranes of the frontal sinuses, leading to congestion, swelling, proliferation, and exudation. Patients may experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and frontal swelling pain. An examination with an endoscope and a CT scan of the sinuses will reveal purulent secretions in both nasal cavities. At the same time, enlargement of the nasal conchae on both sides can block the nasal passages causing nasal congestion in patients. In terms of treatment, the acute phase requires symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment. Generally, in cases of bacterial infection, patients can achieve good results with oral or intravenous antibiotic treatment. However, for chronic sinusitis, local surgical treatment is required for cure.

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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.

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Symptoms of sinusitis recovery

Sinusitis is a relatively common otolaryngological disease. If sinusitis is cured after treatment, clinically it means that the symptoms have subsided; there is no nasal congestion, no purulent nasal discharge, normal sense of smell, and no headache, dizziness, or blood in the nasal discharge. However, individual differences in treatment outcomes do exist. During the treatment process, regular follow-up visits are necessary to observe the recovery status of the condition. Additionally, combining nasal endoscopy, routine blood tests, and sinus CT scans with the doctor's clinical experience can help determine whether the sinusitis has healed. However, some patients may experience a recurrence of symptoms after treatment.

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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.