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- What is sinusitis?
- Symptoms of sinusitis
- Causes of sinusitis
- Prevention of sinusitis
- Risk factors for sinusitis
- Complications of sinusitis
- When to see a doctor about sinusitis
- Diagnosis of sinusitis
- Conventional treatment of sinusitis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of sinusitis
- Living with sinusitis
- Caring for someone with sinusitis
Sinusitis is an infection and inflammation of the sinus passages, which can become swollen and blocked, making it difficult to breath through the nose. Sinusitis causes pain and other symptoms from the inflammation.
There are four main sinus cavities in the skull which contain air, mucous and tiny little hairs, called cilia. The sinuses exist in pairs with one side on the left and one of the right. The mucous in the sinus cavities, together with the cilia is used as a protective measure, to trap and sweep out bacteria that may try to come in and infect the body.
The four main sinus cavities that exist in the head and which can become infected are:
- Frontal sinuses - exist in the area behind the forehead
- Maxillary sinuses - exist in the area behind the cheeks
- Sphenoid sinuses - exist deep in skull behind the eyes
- Ethmoid sinuses - exist deep in the skull behind the maxillary sinuses
Sinusitis occurs when the lining of the sinuses becomes inflamed, irritated and swollen and it prevents the cilia from working properly.
Allergies ares closely associated with the development of sinusitis, due to the inflammation of nasal mucous that allergy causes, which if not resolved can lead to sinusitis.
Sinusitis can be either:
- Acute - usually caused by a bacterial infection of the sinus passages, but can also be caused by an allergy or irritation to a substance
- Chronic - when sinus infections occur regularly, last longer than an acute infection and cause longer-term symptoms
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Facts about sinusitis
- Sinusitis is a very common upper respiratory condition
- Chronic sinusitis is very closely associated with the development of nasal polyps (overgrowth of inflamed tissue in the sinus passages)
- Sinusitis is also associated with allergic rhinitis, as one can predispose the other to develop
- Untreated and serious sinusitis can develop into more serious infections of the head and brain
- Always seek medical attention for babies and young children with any type of fever associated with sinusitis
- Sinusitis is also known as rhino-sinusitis (rhino means "nose")
- The sinuses need to be able to drain mucous properly to be effective and sinusitis prevents this from happening correctly
- The sinuses are air-filled cavities inside the skull, which scientists believe evolved to make the skull lighter
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