How to deal with frontal headache caused by sinusitis?

Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
Updated on January 09, 2025
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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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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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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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Can sinusitis cause a fever?

Sinusitis can potentially cause fever, primarily seen in cases of acute sinusitis or acute exacerbation of chronic sinusitis. Additionally, some cases are due to a systemic or localized inflammatory response caused by fungal sinusitis, leading to related changes in the condition. For fever, it is first necessary to check the body temperature. If the temperature is below 38.5 degrees Celsius, physical cooling methods are generally recommended. If the temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, antipyretic medications should be considered. In cases of acute bacterial infections, timely antibiotic treatment for infection should be considered, along with using saline solution to wash the nasal cavity. If inflammation occurs repeatedly and conservative medication treatment is not effective, surgery may need to be considered.

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Does sinusitis require surgery?

Sinusitis does not necessarily require surgery; in some cases, medication treatment can be considered. This approach mainly depends on the severity of the sinusitis and the patient's overall symptoms. Especially for acute sinusitis or cases of mild chronic sinusitis, medication is generally the first choice. Furthermore, most patients can effectively alleviate symptoms and improve their condition through standardized medical treatment. The main treatments are oral medications and nasal sprays, and it is also advisable to consider cleansing the nasal cavity with saline solution followed by regular check-ups. In cases of fungal sinusitis or severe inflammatory reactions in chronic sinusitis, surgery might be considered. Generally, surgery is a common minimally invasive procedure with good outcomes.

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Symptoms of recurrent sinusitis

The symptoms of recurrent sinusitis are essentially the same as those of sinusitis itself. Symptoms can be divided into local symptoms, which are those of the nasal cavity, as well as some systemic symptoms, because the recurrence of sinusitis often follows a cold that leads to an acute recurrence. The nasal symptoms mainly include nasal discharge, primarily consisting of yellow pus-like mucus. There may also be nasal congestion or a sensation of the nose being blocked, as well as headaches. The location and severity of the headache depend on which sinus is more severely inflamed, which also affects where the headache is felt. Additionally, there may be a disturbance in the sense of smell, which refers to a reduced sensitivity to smells, or a reduced ability to smell or weak sense of smell. Systemic symptoms mainly include lethargy, feelings of headache and weakness, lack of concentration, and a general lack of energy. Overall, the symptoms of recurrent sinusitis are similar to those of initial sinusitis, with most being the same.