What is sinusitis?

Written by Yao Jun
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Updated on September 11, 2024
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Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses, divided into two types: one with nasal polyps, known as chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps, and one without nasal polyps, known as chronic sinusitis without nasal polyps. If it is chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps, functional endoscopic sinus surgery should be performed to remove the swellings, open the ethmoid sinuses, and treat with medication. If it is chronic sinusitis without nasal polyps, clinically, antibiotics and anti-allergy medications can be used, along with some topical corticosteroids. Avoid spicy and irritating foods, and drink plenty of water. The treatment duration for chronic sinusitis should be at least three months, and care should be taken to avoid colds, staying up late, and overheating. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)

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Otolaryngology
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How to alleviate sinusitis?

The acute phase of sinusitis largely depends on the extent of the inflammation. If the inflammation is mild and the symptoms are atypical or slight, saline nasal irrigation can be considered. If the inflammatory reaction is severe and accompanied by clear symptoms like nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, headaches, and dizziness, then medical treatment should be considered. Generally, the treatment consists primarily of oral antibiotics, along with traditional Chinese medicines and mucolytics, supplemented with nasal sprays. Regular follow-ups are advised, and the treatment period usually ranges from one to two weeks. If standardized medication does not work, or in the case of fungal sinusitis, surgery may be necessary.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
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How to relieve headache from sinusitis?

Sinusitis is currently the general term for what was traditionally called accessory sinusitis. Accessory sinusitis can cause headaches, which is a clinical manifestation of sinusitis. The clinical treatment of headaches primarily targets the sinusitis itself. The causes of the headaches are twofold: one is the headache caused by the irritation of purulent secretions, and the other is the negative pressure headache caused by blockage of the sinus opening and the resultant intrasinus pressure. The treatment includes using medications that constrict the blood vessels in the mucous membranes and then clearing the sinus openings. Additionally, it is crucial to actively pursue anti-inflammatory and anti-infection treatments, primarily using macrolide antibiotics or cephalosporin antibiotics. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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What medicine is good for sinusitis?

Sinusitis is mainly caused by acute inflammatory infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. When a patient's immunity and resistance are low, these bacteria can invade the sinuses through the sinus openings, leading to congestion, swelling, proliferation, and exudation of the sinus mucosa. Patients will experience persistent nasal congestion and discharge of yellow purulent secretions from the nasal cavity. Additionally, patients may also experience fever, facial swelling and pain, headaches, dry mouth, coughing, and other related symptoms. Upon examination, bilateral nasal turbinate mucosal congestion and swelling can be found, and yellow secretions may be seen adhering in the middle nasal meatus or common nasal passage. In terms of treatment, as it is a bacterial infection, patients firstly need symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment. Oral cephalosporin antibiotics are effective. Moreover, using saline to rinse the nasal cavity also provides very good results. If necessary, patients may require endoscopic sinus surgery for recovery. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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How should sinusitis be treated?

The treatment of sinusitis should be based on the specific conditions of each patient, and different treatment plans can generally be divided into two categories. The first is conservative treatment. Conservative treatment mainly includes medication and some local nasal irrigation or puncture methods. This type of conservative treatment generally has good effects, and can relieve the pain and alleviate the symptoms of most patients with sinusitis. Apart from conservative treatment, The second method is surgical treatment. Surgical treatment now involves the reconstruction of nasal and sinus function under endoscopy. This type of surgical treatment can also be considered a minimally invasive and precise treatment plan. However, despite being minimally invasive and precise, it is still a surgery and does involve some trauma. Therefore, surgical treatment is only considered when conservative treatment is ineffective. Surgical treatment is just the beginning of a systematic approach to treating sinusitis. It can be understood this way: after the surgery, the follow-up medication treatment, which is a set of conservative treatment plans, and regular check-ups need to be promptly followed up. Reliance solely on surgical treatment may not achieve particularly ideal long-term effects.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Symptoms of sinusitis in babies

Baby sinusitis is divided into acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis. Acute sinusitis often occurs during the course of acute rhinitis, with worsened symptoms on the affected side, which can include chills, fever, general malaise, lack of energy, nasal obstruction, purulent nasal discharge, localized pain, headache, reduced sense of smell, and decreased appetite. The symptoms of chronic sinusitis are relatively mild or not obvious, generally including dizziness, easy fatigue, listlessness, poor appetite, reduced memory, and lack of concentration.