How to treat sinusitis?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on February 24, 2025
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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.

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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
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How to treat sinusitis?

The treatment of sinusitis is mainly divided into three categories. The first category is observation and follow-up; the second category is medication treatment; the third is surgical treatment. If the sinusitis is very mild and does not have obvious clinical symptoms, and the nasal cavity is relatively clean, most of these cases can be considered for observation without particular treatment. If the inflammation is more pronounced, accompanied by nasal congestion, a runny nose, headache, and dizziness, most of these cases should consider medication treatment, which usually involves oral medications and nasal sprays. Additionally, rinsing the nasal cavity with saline can be considered. If the inflammatory response is particularly severe and symptoms are pronounced, and if standard medication treatment is ineffective, surgery may need to be considered. Currently, the main surgical option is endoscopic sinus surgery. Generally, this approach is quite effective, causes less damage, and allows for a relatively quick recovery.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Is hot compress useful for sinusitis?

Sinusitis is a relatively common otolaryngological disease. Hot compresses do not have a clear therapeutic effect on the condition itself, but they may help relieve symptoms of nasal congestion and runny nose. Patients with sinusitis should visit an otolaryngology clinic after the onset of symptoms for examinations such as nasal endoscopy and sinus CT scans to assess the severity of the disease. Most patients need to consider treatment with oral medications and nasal sprays. During the treatment process, it is necessary to have regular follow-ups to observe the effectiveness of the treatment. If the results of standardized medication treatment are not satisfactory and the clinical symptoms are severe, then surgical treatment should be considered. After surgery, regular follow-up visits are also necessary to monitor for any recurrence.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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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.)