Struggling with a blocked nose? It might be a sinus infection

Acute sinusitis is when the cavities around your nasal passages become inflamed and swollen. This leads to mucus build up and interferes with drainage. This makes it difficult to breathe through your nose. The area around your eyes and face might feel swollen, and you might have facial pain or a headache.

ALSO SEE: Know your headache – migraine, cluster or tension?

Acute sinusitis is mostly caused by the common cold, which is a viral infection. In some cases, a bacterial infection develops. Most cases resolve within a week to 10 days, unless a bacterial infection develops. In most cases, home remedies are all that’s needed to treat acute sinusitis.

Sinusitis that lasts more than 12 weeks despite medical treatment is called chronic sinusitis. Most people with acute sinusitis don’t need to see a doctor.

Contact your doctor if you have any of the following:

• Symptoms that either don’t improve within a few days;
• A persistent fever;
• A history of recurrent or chronic sinusitis;

Acute sinusitis symptoms often include:

• Drainage of a thick, yellow or greenish discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage);
• Nasal obstruction or congestion, causing difficulty breathing through your nose;
• Pain, tenderness, swelling and pressure around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead that worsens when bending over.

Other signs and symptoms can include:

• Ear pressure;
• Headache;
• Aching in your upper jaw and teeth;
• Reduced sense of smell and taste;
• Cough, which might be worse at night;
• Bad breath (halitosis);
• Fatigue;
• Fever.

The following signs or symptoms may indicate an infection:

• Pain, swelling or redness around your eyes;
• Swollen forehead;
• Severe, unrelenting headache;
• High fever;
• Confusion;
• Double vision or other vision changes;
• Stiff neck.

Risk factors

You may be at increased risk of getting sinusitis if you have:

• Hay fever or another allergic condition that affects your sinuses;
• A nasal passage abnormality, such as a deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps or tumours;
• A medical condition such as cystic fibrosis or an immune system disorder such as HIV/Aids.

Complications of acute sinusitis

Acute sinusitis complications are uncommon. If they occur, they might include:

• Chronic sinusitis. Acute sinusitis may be a flare-up of a long-term problem known as chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis lasts longer than 12 weeks.
• Meningitis. This infection causes inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord.
• Other infections. Uncommonly, infection can spread to the bones (osteomyelitis) or skin (cellulitis).
• Partial or complete loss of sense of smell. Nasal obstruction and inflammation of the nerve for smell (olfactory nerve) can cause temporary or permanent loss of smell.
• Vision problems. If infection spreads to your eye socket, it can cause reduced vision or even blindness that can
  be permanent.

Diagnosis

Consult your doctor who will do a history and physical examination which includes feeling for tenderness in your nose and face and looking inside your nose.

Other methods that might be used to diagnose acute sinusitis and rule out other conditions include:

• Nasal endoscopy. A thin, flexible tube (endoscope) with a fiber-optic light inserted through your nose allows your doctor to visually inspect the inside of your sinuses.
• Imaging studies. A CT scan or MRI can show details of your sinuses and nasal area. While not recommended for uncomplicated acute sinusitis, imaging studies might help identify abnormalities or suspected complications.
• Nasal and sinus cultures. Laboratory tests are generally unnecessary for diagnosing acute sinus. However, when the condition fails to respond to treatment or is worsening, tissue cultures might help determine the cause, such as a bacterial infection.
• Allergy testing. If your doctor suspects that allergies have triggered your acute sinusitis, he or she will recommend an allergy skin test. A skin test is safe and quick, and can help pinpoint the allergen that’s responsible for your nasal flare-ups.

ALSO SEE: What is the difference between flu, allergies and coronavirus in your kids

Treatment

Most cases of acute sinusitis, those caused by a viral infection, resolve on their own.

Selfcare techniques are usually all you need to ease symptoms. Your doctor may recommend treatments to help relieve sinusitis symptoms, including:

• Saline nasal spray, which you spray into your nose several times a day to rinse your nasal passages.
• Nasal corticosteroids. These nasal sprays help prevent and treat inflammation. Examples include fluticasone (Flixonase), budesonide ( R h i n o c o r t ), mometasone ( N a s o n e x ) and beclomethasone (Beconase).
• Decongestants. These medications are available in over-the-counter and prescription liquids, tablets and nasal sprays. Use nasal decongestants for only a few days. Otherwise they may cause the return of more severe congestion (rebound congestion).
• Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as paracetamol, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in such children.
• Antibiotics usually aren’t needed to treat acute sinusitis. Even if your acute sinusitis is bacterial, it may clear up without treatment. Your doctor might wait and watch to see if your bacterial acute sinusitis worsens. However, severe, progressive or persistent symptoms might require antibiotics. If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, be sure to take the whole course, even after your symptoms get better.
• Immunotherapy. If allergies are contributing to your sinusitis, allergy shots that help reduce the body’s reaction to specific allergens may help.
• Alternative medicine. No alternative therapies have been proved to ease the symptoms of acute sinusitis, but products containing certain combinations of herbs may help.

About the expert: 

Dr Dulcy Rakumakoe holds a MBBCH degree from Wits University, a diploma in occupational health, a diploma in HIV management, travel medicine diploma, masters of science in sports medicine, and a masters in business administration degree from GIBS. She is a social entrepreneur with a passion for providing healthcare and wellness solutions for low and middle-income communities in South Africa. Learn more about Dr Dulcy Rakumakoe here. 

*Always consult your paediatrician, gynaecologist or health-care provider for all health matters relating to you and your children.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.