Sinusitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, namely the maxillary sinuses. Hence the corresponding name. The maxillary sinuses completely occupy the entire space in the upper jaw. In extreme forms, inflammation spreads to bone tissue. Therefore, experts classify this disease as sinusitis, that is, diseases that occur in empty bone cavities in the human skull.
The disease is infectious in nature and has several forms and types. Sinusitis is common throughout the world. According to WHO, about 10% of the world's population suffers from the disease.
Why does sinusitis appear?
There are many causes of inflammation in the nose, the main ones are:
- The appearance of tumors or polyps in the nasopharynx or sinuses
- Deterioration of the immune system
- The presence of serious injuries to the facial skeleton
- Chronic malformations of the sinuses and nose
However, the main cause of the disease is considered to be the presence of various infections in the nasopharynx. They enter the sinuses through other sources of inflammation. Sometimes sinusitis occurs due to tooth inflammation. In medical practice, such a case is called odontogenic. The roots of some teeth (sixes) of the upper jaw can enter the maxillary sinus. It is believed that this phenomenon is a feature of the body, and not a pathology.
Inflammation can also be caused by streptococci, fungal infections or staphylococci, as well as mycoplasma or chlamydia.
Reception features
Therapy with antibacterial drugs requires strict adherence to the doctor’s instructions. Do not exceed the dosage and frequency of administration, otherwise there may be a risk of side effects from the cardiovascular system, kidneys, liver, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract.
- The main treatment regimen boils down to taking systemic and local agents. Local antibiotics do not penetrate the bloodstream and therefore do not negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract. They enter through the mucous membrane into the sinuses, affect the source of inflammation and reduce its area. The following antibacterial agents are effective:
- Sprays and drops. For children under three years of age, the otolaryngologist prescribes drops; sprays are allowed from the age of 3.
- Suspensions. They are as effective as tablets. Used to treat sinusitis in children under 5 years of age.
- Solutions. Antibiotics are used during puncture of the maxillary sinus. The drug is injected directly into the sinus to kill pathogenic microflora at the site of inflammation.
- Tablets and capsules. The active substance is distributed through the bloodstream.
- Injections. They are prescribed rarely and only for complicated sinusitis. Penicillin injections are given every 4 hours, cephalosporins - 2 times a day.
The doctor determines the course of treatment individually. Along with local antibiotics, the ENT doctor selects vasoconstrictors and antiseptics to facilitate the passage of mucus and cleanse the nasal cavity.
Types of sinusitis: symptoms and specifics of the disease
Experts divide the disease into several types depending on the form of its course.
Chronic sinusitis
The disease develops into this form after several attempts to treat acute sinusitis. Chronic inflammation of the sinuses also appears due to other diseases that are not related in any way to the ENT organs or any trauma to the nose. This form of the disease has a number of specific symptoms that periodically subside or worsen:
- Facial swelling
- Increased body temperature up to 38℃
- Periodic severe headaches that occur when moving the head
- There are tears from time to time
- Deterioration of sense of smell
- Conjunctivitis
- Presence of yellow or yellow-green mucus
Acute sinusitis
The most common type of disease. This is a rapidly developing form that occurs due to various respiratory diseases, for example, ARVI, runny nose, seasonal colds, inflammation of the teeth of the upper jaw (sixes).
Typically, pathogens enter the body through thin channels that are connected to the nose. After which lymphocytes begin to be produced in large quantities. These are microorganisms of the immune system that disinfect dangerous bacteria and infections. Because of this, mucus accumulates. Through the channels it enters our nose and clogs them. It puts pressure on the walls and causes severe inflammation. This form of sinusitis in adults and children goes away without fever, but it still has other characteristic symptoms.
Treatment of this form is considered effective if the mucus begins to leave the canals. Then the disease passes without complications and transition to a chronic form. The following specific symptoms are characteristic of acute sinusitis:
- Decreased performance
- Apathy
- Sleep mode failure
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Malaise
- Headache
- Facial swelling
Bilateral sinusitis
It is considered the most dangerous form of the disease, which is more difficult to treat. Inflammation of the mucous membrane occurs in the sinuses, which are located on both sides of the nose.
Bilateral sinusitis occurs due to microorganisms that enter the sinuses from the mouth or respiratory system. More often, bilateral sinusitis manifests itself in an acute form, becoming chronic if treatment is ineffective.
The disease is diagnosed when the following symptoms are present:
- Increased tear production
- Discharge of a large volume of snot
- Intoxication of the body
- Increased body temperature up to 38℃
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain in muscles and joints
- Painful sensations
- Apathy
- Lethargy
- Decreased performance
- Failure to sleep or insomnia
- Bilateral facial swelling
- Pain in the nose when touched or moved
Purulent sinusitis
It is believed that this form is caused by incorrect therapy or an attempt to self-medicate the acute form of the disease. The cause is viruses, infections or colds that the patient decided to endure without treatment and contacting a specialist.
Purulent sinusitis is characterized by the accumulation of pathogenic bacteria in the sinuses. Inflammation can spread to the bone tissues of the face. This is very dangerous, as it will complicate the treatment process and prolong it indefinitely.
Odontogenic sinusitis
A form of the disease caused by inflammation of the teeth or ENT organs. Typically, this type of illness occurs in people who do not take care of their oral health. The affected roots of the teeth of the upper jaw (usually sixes) infect the mucous membrane of the sinuses. Because of them, pus gets into the nasal mucosa. Then mucus accumulates in the sinuses and clogs the canals. The following specific symptoms are characteristic of odontogenic sinusitis:
- Severe toothaches
- Painful sensations
- Apathy
- Lethargy
- Decreased performance
- Increased body temperature up to 38℃
- Periodic severe headaches that occur when moving the head
- Periodically there are tears for no reason
Allergic sinusitis
This common form of the disease affects allergy sufferers, that is, people susceptible to external irritants, for example, poplar fluff, pollen, dust and others.
The allergen penetrates the sinuses and causes the production of white blood cells. They begin to accumulate in the sinuses and clog the canals, inflaming the mucous membrane. This form of sinusitis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Increased body temperature
- Headache
- Apathy
- Weakness
- Reduced performance
- Pain in the cheekbones and eyes
- Impaired sense of smell
Catarrhal sinusitis
A common type of disease among adolescents and children. Its appearance is provoked by harmful bacteria that have penetrated the maxillary sinuses. Then the mucous membranes of the nose swell, narrowing the channel for mucus.
Catarrhal sinusitis is considered the mildest form of inflammation, which with timely treatment goes away quickly and without consequences. It is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Change in snot color - yellow or green-yellow
- Appetite disturbance
- Muscle pain
- Aches all over the body
- Increased body temperature
- Severe headaches while moving the head
- Feeling of nasal constriction
- Severe swelling of the face and eyelids
Polypous sinusitis
This form develops when polyps appear in the nasal sinuses, blocking the channels for removing mucus from the sinuses. What are polyps? These are unhealthy formations that occur in the mucous membrane due to rapid and excessive cell division.
Polyps can appear for several reasons - hereditary factors, consequences of nasal injuries, untreated viral or bacterial diseases.
Patients typically report the following symptoms:
- Severe headaches
- Increased body temperature
- Copious snot discharge
- Dulled sense of smell
- Feeling of nasal congestion
Causes of sinusitis
A bacterial infection that often occurs as a complication of a viral infection. It is caused by various bacteria (pneumococci, streptococci, staphylococci). Possibly viral sinusitis (caused by influenza viruses, parainfluenza, adenoviruses) and fungal ones. Sinusitis is often preceded by acute respiratory infections, severe nosebleeds, dental disease, and swimming in contaminated water. Infection in the sinuses can enter through the nose, through the blood. In some cases, sinusitis can occur due to allergic reactions.
How is sinusitis treated?
When the first symptoms of the disease appear, you should consult a specialist. The doctor will conduct a survey, examination and diagnosis. After which a treatment strategy will be prescribed. It’s better not to delay going to a specialist. Then the disease can provoke serious complications or become chronic. It is also recommended to visit a specialist periodically as a preventative measure.
How is sinusitis treated? After taking anamnesis, the specialist prescribes a treatment strategy. Treatment can take several forms - conventional therapy, physical therapy or surgery. In the first case, the patient is prescribed a number of medications that should suppress inflammation and eliminate pain.
Physiotherapy is prescribed as a concomitant method of treatment. One of these methods is warming up: it is carried out using a blue lamp. Surgical intervention is the most extreme method prescribed in advanced forms of the disease. A puncture or puncture of the sinus is made with a special needle to diagnose and extract purulent masses.
The drug "Cephalexin"
Mild and moderate sinusitis responds well to treatment with antibiotics from the group of first and second generation cephalosporins. One of the effective drugs in this category is Cephalexin. The drug is active against many pathogenic microorganisms: Klebsiel, Escherechia, Streptococcus, Proteus. The antibiotic is produced in the form of tablets and granules for the preparation of a suspension.
The medicine is quite strong and therefore often causes side effects. If urticaria, abdominal pain, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, or convulsions occur, you must stop further treatment with Cephalexin and choose a more gentle medicine.
Is it possible to cure sinusitis at home?
Self-medication is considered the most ineffective method of therapy. It can slow down the healing process or cause a number of complications. You can carry out related procedures at home, for example, inhalation. Warming and inhalation can be done independently at home by breathing over a pot of potatoes, covering yourself with a blanket, or applying a hot boiled egg to the area near the nose.
For patients recovering from sinusitis, speleotherapy is useful - treatment with air from karst or salt mines, caves: there are no microorganisms in such air, it is saturated with carbon dioxide.
You can try various accompanying measures, but the treatment strategy itself is prescribed by your doctor. This is the key to a quick recovery without consequences.
Is it possible to take antibiotics for sinusitis?
Antibiotics are prescribed to treat various forms of sinusitis. The most effective groups of drugs are considered to be:
- Penicillins are a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid
- Cephalosporins - powder or saline solution that suppresses inflammation
- Macrolides are antibacterial drugs of natural and semi-synthetic origin that contain a lactone ring in their structure
- Fluoroquinolones are substances that have a wide spectrum of action against gram-positive and gram-negative flora, aerobes and anaerobes, and atypical bacteria
All medications must be prescribed by your attending physician. Improper use of antibiotics can cause serious problems in the functioning of the body.
