What are the symptoms of sinusitis?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on December 11, 2024
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The clinical symptoms of sinusitis vary widely among individuals, and in general, it is considered a common illness. The most frequent clinical manifestations include nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, reduced sense of smell, headaches, and dizziness. Some patients may also experience facial pain and numbness; however, specific symptoms vary from person to person. Some may exhibit only one symptom, while others may experience two to three, or even multiple symptoms, with the disease demonstrating recurrent and fluctuating patterns. In terms of treatment, medication remains the primary approach, supplemented by nasal irrigation. Only a small fraction of patients, whose symptoms do not improve with conservative medication treatments or who suffer from particularly severe inflammatory reactions like fungal sinusitis, may consider surgery.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What are the symptoms of sinusitis?

The clinical symptoms of sinusitis vary widely among individuals, and in general, it is considered a common illness. The most frequent clinical manifestations include nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, reduced sense of smell, headaches, and dizziness. Some patients may also experience facial pain and numbness; however, specific symptoms vary from person to person. Some may exhibit only one symptom, while others may experience two to three, or even multiple symptoms, with the disease demonstrating recurrent and fluctuating patterns. In terms of treatment, medication remains the primary approach, supplemented by nasal irrigation. Only a small fraction of patients, whose symptoms do not improve with conservative medication treatments or who suffer from particularly severe inflammatory reactions like fungal sinusitis, may consider surgery.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
52sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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How to treat sinusitis?

In clinical practice, the treatment for sinusitis depends on the patient's symptoms, whether it is acute or chronic sinusitis, and whether there are any complications associated with acute sinusitis. Generally, for sinusitis, the main treatment involves the local use of nasal corticosteroids sprays such as mometasone furoate. Additionally, oral anti-inflammatory drugs are used, mainly macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin and clarithromycin. Some Chinese patent medicines that open orifices aromatically can also be used, such as Bi Tong Jing Granules and Dan Xiang Bi Yan Tablets, to provide auxiliary treatment. Of course, a CT scan of the sinuses can also be performed to assess the extent of the lesion and determine if the problem can be resolved through surgery. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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.