Sinuses are air-filled hollow cavities around the nasal cavity. The lining of the sinuses produces mucus which drains into the nasal cavity. When the sinuses are blocked and not draining, the trapped mucus becomes infected, resulting in sinusitis. The medical term sinusitis refers to inflammation or infection of sinusitis. Common symptoms include:
- Nasal blockage
- Coloured or thick nose mucus or phlegm
- Facial pain
- Decreased or loss of sense of smell
- Postnasal drip (mucus flowing down from the nose to the throat region)
- Cough
Sinusitis is acute when it is less than 3 months and chronic when the duration of symptoms is more than 3 months. Majority of sinusitis cases are treatable with medications (usually antibiotics, saline rinse and nasal steroid sprays). It is important to have sinusitis treated because untreated sinusitis can lead to:
- Poor quality of life - Based on studies, the pain suffered by patients with chronic sinusitis can be similar to those suffering from major cancer and arthritis. The debilitating symptoms can also affect the ability to work, reduce productivity and affect sleep.
- Worsening of Asthma and other lung conditions - As the nose and sinuses are the gateways to the lungs, unhealthy sinuses can cause inflammatory changes to the lungs, resulting in certain lung conditions such as Asthma and Bronchitis.
- Complications - The sinuses are close to the eyes and brain. Although rare, an untreated sinus infection can lead to infections spreading to these organs, resulting in severe eye or brain infections.
If you have been suffering from prolonged symptoms of sinusitis, I would highly recommend that you consult an ENT Specialist for an assessment and treatment.
