Sinusitis is the infection of the sinuses leading to difficulty breathing, pain, and pressure due to inflammation. There are different types of the condition whereby the acute one can resolve on its own but other types, like chronic one, needs medical attention. You will need an ear, nose, & throat doctor Houston, TX, to evaluate your condition before administering the right treatment.
What are sinuses?
Sinuses are air-filled pockets in the bones behind your forehead, nose, cheeks, and between your eyes. When the pockets are inflamed or blocked, you might have sinusitis.
Causes
Different factors can cause a sinusitis infection, including viruses or bacteria. Although the two are common causes of the condition, different triggers might cause your sinus attack. The triggers include mold, dust, a cold environment, and other allergens.
It’s great to observe when and where you get your attacks to identify your triggers. Observing your surrounding environment and the available allergens can help you identify your trigger factors.
Symptoms
When you have sinusitis, you might experience headaches, facial pain, or a combination of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Reduced sense of smell
- Blocked or stuffy nose
- Sleeping problems
- Yellow or green mucus
- Post-nasal drip
- Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
Types of sinusitis
There are three common types of sinusitis, and the difference is identifiable through the duration of the symptoms and treatment methods. The types are acute, recurrent, and chronic sinusitis.
Acute sinusitis
Viruses or bacteria usually cause acute sinusitis. The first sign of the condition is a common cold and associated symptoms. You will have facial pain, pressure, and a congested and runny nose. The condition might resolve independently between 2-4 weeks, or you can take pain-relieving medications and decongestants.
Recurrent sinusitis
When you have acute sinusitis more than four times a year, your specialist will describe your infection as recurrent sinusitis. The infection recurs because of growths in your sinuses or exposure to viruses and bacteria. It can resolve independently, or your doctor might prescribe decongestants and pain relievers.
Chronic sinusitis
When your sinusitis keeps on recurring without response to medication, and the symptoms last for more than 12 weeks, you might have chronic sinusitis. Although fever is a common symptom of acute sinusitis, with chronic, you will not have a fever but experience other symptoms like facial pain and fatigue.
Treatment options
Your specialist will administer treatment depending on your type of infection. If you have acute sinusitis, your doctor might prescribe decongestant sprays, antibiotics for bacterial infections, antihistamines and topical nasal corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, and saline drops to rinse your nasal passages.
You can undergo surgical procedures for recurrent and chronic infections. The surgical options include balloon sinuplasty, which involves inflating a small balloon in your sinus to open them, and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), which removes excess bones and tissues from your sinuses.
If you experience symptoms of sinusitis, visit Houston Sinus Surgery for treatment. You will meet qualified, experienced, and compassionate specialists ready to offer suitable treatment after a thorough evaluation. Call or book an appointment online for expert sinusitis relief.
