SINUS INFECTION
- Sinusitis is inflammation of the air cavities within the passages of the nose. Sinusitis can be caused by infection, but also can be caused by allergies and chemical or particulate irritation of the sinuses.
- Sinusitis may be classified in several ways such as acute sinus infection, subacute sinus infection, chronic sinus infection, infected sinusitis, and noninfectious sinusitis.
- Sinus infection symptoms may include sinus headache, facial tenderness, pressure or pain in the sinuses, fever, cloudy discolored drainage, and feeling of nasal stuffiness, sore throat, and cough, and occasionally may be associated with facial swelling.
- Bacterial infection of the sinuses is suspected when facial pain, pus-like nasal discharge, and symptoms that persists for longer than a week and are not responding to over-the-counter nasal medications.
- Sinus infections are generally diagnosed based on patient history and physical examination by a health care professional.
- Bacterial sinusitis is usually treated with antibiotic therapy. Viral or allergic sinusitis cannot be helped with antibiotic therapy.
- Early treatment of allergic sinusitis may prevent secondary bacterial sinus infections.
- Other therapies for sinus infections include OTC medications such as Tylenol, decongestants, and mucolytics. Nasal irrigation can be accomplished with a Neti-pot or rinse kit (nasal bidet).
ALLERGIC RHINITIS & SINUSITIS
- Allergy involves an exaggerated response of the immune system, often to common substances such as foods or pollen.
- The immune system is an intricate system that normally defends the body against foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses, while also surveying for conditions such as cancer and autoimmunity.
- Allergens are substances that are foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction.
- IgE is the allergic antibody.
- Although many individuals outgrow allergies over time, allergies can also develop at any age, including during adulthood.
- While environment plays a role in allergy development, there is a greater risk of developing allergic conditions if a person has a family history of allergy, especially in parents or siblings.