Is sinusitis serious?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on March 17, 2025
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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.

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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.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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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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Can sinusitis cause headaches?

Sinusitis, now commonly referred to as sinusitis, is primarily caused by purulent secretions from bacterial infections that irritate structures, leading to symptoms such as toxic headaches and dizziness. During sinusitis, blockage of the sinus openings can cause negative pressure within the sinus cavity, which may also lead to pressurized headaches. Additionally, if sinusitis is accompanied by hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates or a deviated nasal septum, it can stimulate a nerve reflex causing neuralgic headaches. Therefore, it is certain that clinical sinusitis or paranasal sinusitis can cause headaches.

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Otolaryngology
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Treatment of Chronic Rhinitis and Sinusitis

Chronic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis are due to persistent inflammation following acute inflammatory stimuli or recurrent attacks, leading to nasal and systemic symptoms. Patients may experience facial swelling and pain, headaches, and nasal congestion, generally bilateral and progressively worsening. Additionally, there may be yellow purulent discharge from the nasal cavity, sometimes accompanied by an odor. The examination can reveal congested and edematous bilateral nasal turbinates and abnormal secretions in the nasal cavity. For treatment, patients initially need a sinus CT scan; if sinusitis is confirmed, symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment is necessary, including oral antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, which are relatively effective. Saline nasal irrigation is also required. If conservative treatment fails, the patient may need endoscopic sinus surgery and partial resection of the bilateral inferior turbinates to recover.

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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.