Does sinusitis require surgery?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on January 06, 2025
00:00
00:00

Sinusitis does not necessarily require surgery; in some cases, medication treatment can be considered. This approach mainly depends on the severity of the sinusitis and the patient's overall symptoms. Especially for acute sinusitis or cases of mild chronic sinusitis, medication is generally the first choice. Furthermore, most patients can effectively alleviate symptoms and improve their condition through standardized medical treatment. The main treatments are oral medications and nasal sprays, and it is also advisable to consider cleansing the nasal cavity with saline solution followed by regular check-ups. In cases of fungal sinusitis or severe inflammatory reactions in chronic sinusitis, surgery might be considered. Generally, surgery is a common minimally invasive procedure with good outcomes.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yao Jun
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
53sec home-news-image

What is sinusitis?

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.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 14sec home-news-image

How to treat nasal congestion caused by sinusitis?

Nasal congestion caused by sinusitis requires symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment as the initial step, because sinusitis, which includes inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, is caused by acute inflammatory irritation leading to nasal symptoms. This condition can result in nasal congestion due to the repeated stimulation of the nasal conchae by yellow purulent secretions. Additionally, patients may experience discharge of yellow purulent material from the nasal cavity, facial swelling and pain, headaches, and fever among other symptoms. Examination with an endoscope may reveal bilateral congested and swollen nasal mucosa, and yellow purulent secretions in the nasal passages. Treatment initially requires symptomatic anti-inflammatory measures to reduce inflammation. Since it is a bacterial infection, patients can use antibiotics. Also necessary is the use of saline nasal irrigation and nebulized inhalations to contract the nasal conchae and alleviate congestion. Once the inflammation is reduced, nasal congestion will gradually improve. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
49sec home-news-image

What IV fluids are used for sinusitis?

Sinusitis, which we now clinically refer to as sinusitis. When sinusitis acutely flares up, our main treatment is to administer anti-infection medications and corticosteroid drugs. This includes oral medication treatment or intravenous infusion therapy. Clinically, our main approach is the aforementioned medication treatment, and we also conduct CT scans and surgical treatments based on the patient's condition, of course, assessing symptoms before proceeding. Before surgery, preoperative medication preparation is also needed, which involves some infusion therapy, using these medications, including cephalosporin antibiotics and corticosteroid drugs. (The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
1min 9sec home-news-image

Can sinusitis cause a fever?

Sinusitis may cause fever, but this is mainly seen in acute sinusitis or during the acute flare-ups of chronic sinusitis, which relatively tends to provoke a fever. If it is just a mild case of sinusitis or plain chronic sinusitis, most patients do not experience significant fever changes, but they might have symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, headaches, dizziness, and a decrease in the sense of smell. When experiencing a fever, it is important to visit an otolaryngology department as soon as possible where you might consider undergoing a routine blood test to check the extent of the inflammatory response. Most patients will need to consider antibiotic treatment for the infection. If the body temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, there may be a need to consider antipyretic medications. If the fever is below 38.5 degrees, physical cooling measures are generally recommended, but it is necessary to regularly reassess and monitor the temperature, selecting targeted treatments based on the fluctuations of the condition. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
57sec home-news-image

How to treat sinusitis?

The treatment for sinusitis primarily involves conservative medication, as well as surgical procedures. Generally, conservative medical treatment is the standard first-line method. In terms of treatment methods, antibacterial therapy is mainly used, along with the oral administration of traditional Chinese medicine preparations, and mucolytic agents, which help alleviate sinus inflammation and facilitate the discharge of secretions from the nasal and sinus cavities. Additionally, nasal irrigation with saline solution can be considered to further improve the condition. If standardized medical treatment is ineffective, or in cases of fungal sinusitis, we may consider conducting minimally invasive sinus surgery using nasal endoscopy. Overall, the outcomes of surgical treatment are usually quite good, but regular follow-up examinations are needed to check for any recurrence of the condition.