How to treat sinusitis

Written by Li Rui

Otolaryngology

Updated on May 11, 2025

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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 Li Rui

Otolaryngology

47sec

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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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Written by Xu Qing Tian

Otolaryngology

54sec

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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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Written by Li Rui

Otolaryngology

51sec

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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.

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Written by Zhang Jun

Otolaryngology

1min 19sec

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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.)

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Written by Li Rui

Otolaryngology

46sec

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Should sinusitis use hot compress or cold compress?

Generally speaking, neither cold nor hot compresses are necessary for sinusitis, because sinusitis is mainly an acute or chronic bacterial infection of the sinuses. Common symptoms include nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, and reduced sense of smell. Some people may also experience headaches and dizziness. The main treatment is still medication, and it is also possible to consider rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution, regular follow-ups, and if the inflammation is severe, sinus opening surgery may need to be considered, which currently mainly involves endoscopic sinus surgery. Overall, neither hot nor cold compresses have a therapeutic effect on sinusitis, so they are not recommended.