ADAM Health Encyclopedia

Sinusitis

Definition

Sinusitis refers to inflammation of the sinuses that occurs with a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection.

See also: Chronic sinusitis

Alternative Names

Causes

The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull (behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes) that are lined with mucus membranes. Healthy sinuses contain no bacteria or other organisms (they are sterile) and are open, allowing mucus to drain and air to circulate.

When inflamed, the sinuses become blocked with mucus and can become infected. Each year, over 30 million adults and children get sinusitis.

Sinusitis can be acute (lasting anywhere from 2 - 8 weeks) or chronic, with symptoms lingering much longer.

Sinusitis can occur from one of these conditions:

• Small hairs (cilia) in the sinuses, which help move mucus out, are not working properly. The small openings (ostia) from the sinuses to the nose become blocked.
• Too much mucus is produced.

When the sinus openings become blocked and mucus accumulates, this becomes a great breeding ground for bacteria and other organisms.

Sinusitis usually follows respiratory infections, such as colds, or an allergic reaction. Some people never get sinusitis, and others develop sinusitis often.

People more likely to get frequent sinusitis include those with cystic fibrosis and those with immune systems weakened by HIV or chemotherapy.

The following may increase your risk for developing sinusitis:

• Air pollution and smoke
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Changes in altitude (flying or scuba diving)
• Dental work
• Deviated nasal septum, nasal bone spur, or polyp
• Foreign body in your nose
• Frequent swimming or diving
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Hospitalization, especially if you are in the hospital because of a head injury or have had a tube placed into your nose (nasogastric tube)
• Overuse of nasal decongestants
• Pregnancy

Cystic fibrosis is one of a number of diseases that prevent the cilia from working properly. Other such diseases that put you at increased risk for sinusitis include Kartagener syndrome and immotile cilia syndrome.

Symptoms

The classic symptoms of acute sinusitis usually follow a cold that does not improve, or one that worsens after 5 - 7 days of symptoms.

Symptoms include:

• Bad breath or loss of smell
• Cough, often worse at night
• Fatigue and generally not feeling well
• Fever
• Headache -- pressure-like pain, pain behind the eyes, toothache, or facial tenderness
• Nasal congestion and discharge
• Sore throat and postnasal drip

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are the same as those of acute sinusitis, but tend to be milder and last longer than 8 weeks.

Exams and Tests

Your doctor will test for sinusitis by:

• Shining a light against the sinus (transillumination) for signs of inflammation
• Tapping over a sinus area to find infection

Other tests that might be considered include:

• Culturing material from the nose
• Taking x-rays of the sinuses
• Viewing the sinuses through a fiberoptic scope

However, these tests are not very sensitive at detecting sinusitis, and are often considered unnecessary.

A CT scan of the sinuses is a much better test to help diagnose sinusitis. If sinusitis is thought to involve a tumor or fungal infection, an MRI of the sinuses may be necessary.

If you have chronic or recurrent sinusitis, you may need further lab tests. Tests may include:

• Allergy testing
• Blood tests for HIV or other tests for poor immune function
• Ciliary function tests
• Nasal cytology
• Sweat chloride tests for cystic fibrosis

Treatment

Try the following measures to help reduce congestion in your sinuses:

• Apply a warm, moist washcloth to your face several times a day.
• Drink plenty of fluids to thin the mucus.
• Inhale steam 2 - 4 times per day (for example, sitting in the bathroom with the shower running).
• Spray with nasal saline several times per day.
• Use a humidifier.

Be careful with over-the-counter spray nasal decongestants. They may help at first, but using them beyond 3 - 5 days can actually worsen nasal congestion.

Also, for sinus pain or pressure:

• Avoid flying when you are congested.
• Avoid temperature extremes, sudden changes in temperature, and bending forward with your head down.
• Try acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

If self-care measures are not working, your doctor will consider prescription medications, antibiotics, further testing, or referral to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.

Nasal corticosteroid sprays may be used to decrease swelling, especially if you have swollen structures (such as nasal polyps) or allergies. Avoiding your allergy triggers, taking nasal steroids, antihistamines, and allergy immunotherapy (shots) may help prevent further recurrent disease.

Antibiotics are used to cure the infection causing sinus inflammation.

Acute sinusitis should be treated for 10 - 14 days, while chronic sinusitis should be treated for 3 - 4 weeks.

Surgery to clean and drain the sinuses may also be necessary, especially in patients with recurrent episodes of inflammation despite medical treatment. An ENT specialist, also known as an otolaryngologist, can perform this surgery.

Most fungal sinus infections require surgery. Surgical repair of a deviated septum or nasal polyps may prevent recurrence.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Sinus infections are usually curable with self-care measures and medical treatment. If you are having recurrent attacks, you should be checked for underlying causes such as nasal polyps or other problems, such as allergies.

Possible Complications

Although very rare, complications may include:

• Abscess
• Antibiotic resistance
• Meningitis
• Orbital cellulitis
• Osteomyelitis

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your doctor if:

• Your symptoms last longer than 10 - 14 days or you have a cold that gets worse after 7 days
• You have a severe headache, unrelieved by over-the-counter pain medicine
• You have a fever
• You still have symptoms after taking all of your antibiotics properly

A green or yellow discharge does not necessarily indicate a sinus infection or the need for antibiotics.

Prevention

The best way to prevent sinusitis is to avoid or quickly treat flus and colds:

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants and other chemicals that could boost your immune system and help your body resist infection.
• Get an influenza vaccine each year.
• Reduce stress.
• Wash your hands often, particularly after shaking hands with others.

Other tips for preventing sinusitis:

• Avoid smoke and pollutants.
• Drink plenty of fluids to increase moisture in your body.
• Take decongestants during an upper respiratory infection.
• Treat allergies quickly and appropriately.
• Use a humidifier to increase moisture in your nose and sinuses.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Evidence-based care guideline for management of acute bacterial sinusitis in children 1-18 years of age. Cincinnati (OH): Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; 2006 Jul 7. 17 p.

Slavin RG. The diagnosis and management of sinusitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Dec 2005; 116(6 Suppl): S13-47.