What to know about Sinusitis...

The sinuses are basically empty chambers that sit behind the nose, inside the face, as well as in a number of other locations, such as along each side of the nose and behind the forehead. They have a very specific purpose in the body - to humidify and filter the air that humans inhale and to help keep your airways healthy. Sinusitis - or a sinus infection - usually happens when the sinuses aren’t able to deal with a pathogen that they come into contact with. Sinusitis may be viral or bacterial. This type of infection can be uncomfortable but will usually clear up in a week or so - however, chronic sinusitis can last for weeks or months. This is what you need to know about recognising, and getting help for, sinusitis.

What has caused the infection?

This will either be a virus or bacteria. Distinguishing between the two is important because this will have an impact on the best route to take in terms of treatment. Although there is no specific test, it’s unlikely that sinusitis that you’ve had for less than 10 days will be bacterial. Antibiotics are usually only given for a bacterial infection - this type of treatment doesn’t work for viral sinusitis.
The symptoms of sinusitis

This is what you need to look out for if you think that you might have sinusitis:

• A feeling of pain and discomfort in your sinuses. You will most likely feel this behind the nose, between the eyes and sometimes in your forehead. Sinus pain can also trigger other problems such as jaw pain and ear aches.
• A runny nose. Discharge from the nose is mucus that the body is trying to use to get rid of the infection. It may run out of the nose and can also go down the throat (a ‘postnasal drip’), which can cause a sore throat.
• Inflammation and swelling in your face. This feeling of being ‘stuffed up’ comes from the increased production of mucus in your sinuses and the inflammation response. You may find that you can’t breathe properly through your nose and also that your sense of smell is affected.
• A cough and sore throat. Your throat can be irritated in a number of ways when you have sinusitis, including by mucus dripping down it and because you may be breathing more through your mouth due to a blocked nose. This can produce a cough and a sore throat, as well as a hoarse voice.

Treating sinusitis

Even if you’re not taking antibiotics for your sinus infection there is still plenty that you can do to help ease the symptoms. This includes a nasal rinse, such as a neti pot or a nasal spray that you can buy over the counter from a pharmacy. Decongestants can be very useful in terms of bringing down inflammation and reducing pain and pressure. Plus, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, to help with this too. If there is no improvement after 5 - 7 days then it’s time to see a doctor.
If you feel like you may have sinusitis this is what you need to know about it.