What is sinusitis?
Sinusitis (acute sinusitis) is a common disease that can be caused by a cold . Inflammation in most cases takes more than a week to develop. Many who contact us describe that it presses and hurts over the cheeks or forehead, especially when bending forward. The disease often goes away on its own, but sometimes treatment is needed. At Doktor.se you can get help to assess the symptoms and if necessary we can help you with treatment.
Causes of sinusitis
The most common cause of sinusitis is that a cold has spread from the nose to the sinuses. Colds cause nasal congestion and swollen mucous membranes of the nose and sinuses. The swelling makes it more difficult for the body to transport the mucus away in the mucous membranes. Viruses or bacteria can therefore remain and make the sinuses inflamed.
Inflammation of the sinuses can also be due to the mucous membranes in the nose and sinuses swelling for other reasons, such as allergies or smoking. Another less common cause of severe sinus infection in adults may be an infected tooth in the upper jaw. Then the infection can spread to the sinus that is closest to the tooth.
Here are the sinuses
There are several air-filled cavities in the skeleton of the face: in the forehead, in the cheeks on either side of the nose and in the syllable that sits between the nose and the eye and behind the nose. From the nose there are passages to all sinuses, and therefore a cold can spread further. All cavities are covered by mucous membranes, and if the virus gets stuck, the immune system will react by sending out antibodies and more mucus as a defense. It is most common that it is the sinuses in the cheeks that have become infected with sinusitis.
Symptoms of sinusitis
Common symptoms of sinusitis are that after a cold you have:
- pain in the cheeks and / or forehead, often more on one side
- stuffy nose and purulent runny nose that can smell bad
- pressure or pain in the teeth in the upper jaw
- worse sense of smell
You may also experience other symptoms such as headache, fever, fatigue, cough and ringing in the ears.
Sinusitis in young children
School-age children can have the same symptoms as adults, but it is uncommon for children under the age of six to get sinusitis. Their sinuses are not fully developed. In rare cases, children can get an infection in what is called the syllable cavity, so-called ethmoiditis. It can cause symptoms such as:
- high fever , the child feels fundamentally affected
- red and swollen around the eye
Ethmoiditis is a serious condition that requires urgent hospitalization.
Is sinusitis contagious?
No, you do not infect others so they get similar symptoms. However, colds are contagious.
What can I do myself?
There is a lot you can do yourself to alleviate the disease and reduce the discomfort. It is mainly about reducing the swelling and making sure that mucus and where it flows out more easily. Here are tips on measures that can relieve the symptoms:
- be up and moving, it relieves the swelling in the nose
- have high under your head when you lie down
- try to get more fluid in you than usual, so the mucus becomes less tough
- try to reduce or if possible avoid smoking as smoking causes the mucous membrane to swell
Over-the-counter drugs for sinusitis
- Over-the-counter nasal spray with cortisone reduces swelling and symptoms. It also reduces inflammation and can shorten the course of the disease.
- Over-the-counter decongestant nasal spray reduces swelling and symptoms. You should not use such nasal spray for more than ten days
- Nasal spray with saline solution can reduce swelling and relieve symptoms. You can also rinse your nose with saline solution via a nasal rinse
- Fever- reducing drugs can relieve fever and aches
Home Remedies for Sinusitis – Does It Work?
Rinsing the nose with table salt is a home remedy that can relieve the symptoms.
Treatment of sinusitis
Doktor.se can help you make an assessment of what is probably behind the inflammation. We talk to you about your symptoms, how long you have been ill and how you feel in general. Depending on the assessment, you can get different types of advice and treatment. The purpose of the treatment is to reduce the swelling, clear out each and every mucus and heal the inflammation. In the past, it was very common for doctors to prescribe antibiotics for sinusitis. This is no longer the case, as studies have shown that for most people, the inflammation goes away just as well without antibiotics, and with less risk of side effects. In some cases, for example in severe sinusitis, antibiotics and / or other measures may be needed, such as flushing the sinuses.
When should I seek care?
Most people who get sinusitis do not need to seek care. The problems go away, but it may take some time. If you have severe problems or if you do not get better, you may need to seek care. If you become very ill with a high fever , severe pain and / or stiffness in the neck, you should seek care in an emergency room.