How to understand that sinusitis is starting. How does sinusitis manifest in adults and children?

Sinusitis is called inflammation in the area of ​​the maxillary sinus; it can occur acutely or have a chronic course.

Sinusitis occurs in older children and adults, manifesting itself as pain in the maxillary sinuses, accumulation of pus inside them and symptoms of intoxication.

Typically, sinusitis does not occur in isolation, but in a complex of inflammation of several nasal sinuses, but the symptoms of damage to the maxillary sinuses predominate. In mild cases, the inflammation process involves the mucous membrane; in case of complications, inflammation can spread to the area of ​​the periosteum and bones.

Odontogenic sinusitis

A special case is the so-called odontogenic sinusitis with the penetration of infection from the carious cavity of the teeth (usually in the upper jaw). Usually provoked by opportunistic oral flora.

With odontogenic sinusitis, the infection usually penetrates

• with the development of periodontitis and osteomyelitis of the upper jaw
• with deep dental damage,
• when cysts suppurate in the area of ​​​​the roots of the teeth,
• in case of unsuccessful tooth extraction.

Odontogenic sinusitis occurs as an acute and chronic process, with stages of remission and exacerbation.

Purulent sinusitis

Purulent sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinus with the accumulation of yellow-green purulent contents inside it with an unpleasant odor. In this case, the outflow of pus can be difficult due to tissue swelling, which leads to a sharp deterioration of the condition - severe fever and toxicosis with painful headaches occurs. When the position of the head changes, the pain increases sharply.

The greatest danger of purulent sinusitis is the breakthrough of pus into the cavity of the orbit of the eye or into the area of ​​the brain skull with the formation of intracerebral abscesses, periostitis (inflammation of the periosteum and bones of the skull), diseases of the orbit of the eye, sepsis.

Symptoms of sinusitis

In acute sinusitis, the following symptoms appear:

• feeling of heaviness in the sinus area,
• bursting and pressing pain, sometimes simulating toothache,
• increased pain when tilting the head forward or when pressing on the upper jaw area,
• purulent nasal discharge, difficult to discharge,
• unpleasant smell of discharge,
• fever, general malaise with symptoms of toxicosis.

When acute sinusitis is neglected or improperly treated, a chronic form of the disease develops. This is facilitated by the presence of a persistent infection in the nasopharynx or a deviated nasal septum. In this case, only the mucous layer may be affected, or polyps and purulent discharge may form.

The main manifestations of chronic sinusitis are:

• fatigue, constant weakness,
• frequent headaches of a pressing nature,
• constant runny nose,
• impaired sense of smell,
• absence or extreme difficulty of free nasal breathing, weak effect of vasoconstrictor drugs,
• mucous or purulent nasal discharge.
• unpleasant smell from the nose.

Diagnosis and treatment of sinusitis

Sinusitis is diagnosed and treated by ENT doctors; the diagnosis is made based on complaints and examination, as well as x-rays of the paranasal sinuses. Sometimes, in case of purulent sinusitis, nasal discharge is cultured for flora and sensitivity to antibiotics is determined.

Treatment at home

The basis of conservative treatment is broad-spectrum antibiotics or those to which the microflora is sensitive.

• Usually penicillins (amoxiclav, amoxicillin), cephalosporins (cephalexin) or macropen, zitrolide are used. It is necessary to take one or two courses of antibiotics, depending on the severity and condition of the sinuses.
• In addition to this, vasoconstrictor drugs are prescribed to help relieve swelling in the mucous membranes, as well as drugs that dilute the contents of the sinuses (ASC) and drugs that help the outflow of pus.
• Antiallergic drugs (suprastin, tavegil) are used - they reduce swelling.
• Thermal procedures are applied to the sinus area - a solux lamp, UHF or laser therapy.
• To rinse the sinuses when treating sinusitis, the “cuckoo” method is used: an antiseptic solution is poured into one nostril, and it is pumped out of the second with a soft catheter. To prevent the patient from choking on liquid during the procedure, it is necessary to constantly pronounce “ku-ku-ku-ku”. With this sound, the cavity of the pharynx and throat closes.

Sinus piercing

If these measures are ineffective and the outflow of pus is impaired in complicated sinusitis, a puncture of the sinuses is indicated, rinsing them with antiseptic solutions and removing the pus. After washing the sinuses, solutions of antibiotics and proteolytic enzymes are injected into them, removing inflammatory tissue and cleansing the sinuses (trypsin or chymotrypsin). This procedure significantly alleviates the condition, as it relieves pressure on the walls of the sinuses and pain, and eliminates the source of infection.

Sinusitis during pregnancy

The development of sinusitis during pregnancy is especially dangerous; due to the accumulation of pus, there is a danger for the woman and the fetus, and it is necessary to quickly eliminate the source of infection.

Antibiotic use during pregnancy is limited, and sometimes the only treatment is to puncture the sinuses and pour topical antibacterial solutions inside. In parallel with this short course, vasoconstrictors are prescribed. “Cuckoo” and local irrigation of the nasal cavity with antimicrobial agents are also applicable.

Prevention of sinusitis

In the summer, in the presence of chronic sinusitis, it is necessary to work on hardening and strengthening the immune system, restoring nasal breathing. This is important because sinusitis tends to worsen against the background of colds, which affect people with reduced immunity. It is necessary to heal all carious teeth, rinse the nasal cavity and throat with herbal decoctions (chamomile, sage).

If all these measures are ineffective, an operation to plasticize the nasal septum, open the maxillary sinus, remove destroyed tissues and polyps, and rinse the cavities is indicated.

Causes

For the development of sinusitis, penetration of microbes into the area of ​​the maxillary sinus is necessary. This usually occurs as a result of a complication of a viral infection.

For the development of chronic sinusitis, an important factor is the lack of adequate treatment in the acute process or a decrease in immunity, with the transition of the infection to a sluggish, chronic phase.

Also, sinusitis can develop as a result of trauma to the nasal cavity with infection penetrating inside.

Predisposing factors to it are hypothermia of the legs and the whole body, decreased immunity, allergization of the body, foci of chronic infection in the pharynx and other parts of the body.

Complications of sinusitis

The main complications include destruction of the nasal sinus with the spread of infection deep into the skull - the formation of abscesses, periostitis, diseases of the orbit of the eye, and sepsis.

Such a word as sinusitis is heard by many. And the majority, without fully understanding the concept, in addition to its characteristic symptoms, attribute to the disease a lot of symptoms of other ailments (for example, rhinitis, sinusitis or difficulty breathing after a nose injury). Fear of the doctor, namely of the treatment that he may prescribe in the form of a puncture, forces patients to self-medicate without resorting to medical assistance.

Knowledge of the characteristic manifestations of this disease, as well as effective ways to get rid of unpleasant symptoms, will help to avoid serious consequences.

What kind of disease is this

Sinusitis (or maxillitis) is one of the types of sinusitis. The maxillary sinuses (also called the paired paranasal sinuses) are located in the bones of the upper jaw on both sides of the nose. When their mucous membrane becomes inflamed, sinusitis appears. The pathology has code J01 according to ICD 10. In the photo below you can see what the respiratory organ affected by sinusitis looks like.

The maxillary sinuses are cavities that connect to the nose through narrow openings and are located next to it under the visual organs.

The main functions of the sinus are maintaining a balance of intracranial pressure with the external atmospheric environment, humidifying the oxygen entering the lungs and participating in phonation (voice production). When the passage to the maxillary sinuses becomes blocked due to dilation of the vessels in the nose, mucus accumulates in them, which ultimately leads to inflammation.

Maxillitis is one of the most common otorhinolaryngic diseases, affecting about 10% of the world's population annually. The disease mainly affects younger generations. The disease rarely affects older people.

Reasons for the development of sinusitis

The paired paranasal sinuses are located in the maxillary bone tissue near the sinus. The volume of the cavities is 10-17 cm3. The secretion secreted by the maxillary recesses moisturizes the nasal passages, purifying the oxygen penetrating into the air duct from allergens, dirt and dust.

The key provocateurs of maxillitis are “uninvited guests” of the accessory cavities. During the demi-season periods, the body's immunity weakens, a runny nose appears with dilation of blood vessels, the communication between the maxillary recesses and the smelling organ is blocked and the path for infections opens.

Viral-bacterial microorganisms and their infected waste products easily enter the body and cause disease.

Other possible causes of sinusitis:

For your information. According to statistics, sinusitis occupies a leading position among ENT diseases. In Russia alone, about 10 million people suffer from this disease every year.

More information about the causes of sinusitis can be obtained from the following video:

Types of maxillite

Sinusitis, both in adults and children, has several varieties and forms of the disease. The symptoms of some species are identical, but for the most part they differ, and the treatment methods differ only in the medications selected depending on the cause of infection.

What are the forms of maxillite:

1. Acute stage;
2. Chronic maxillitis;
3. Exacerbation or relapse of a chronic form of the disease.

Maxillitis is also distinguished by the nature of the inflammatory process.

It happens:

Let's consider all forms, types and subspecies in more detail.

Acute type of disease

It is triggered by an allergy, a viral infection, or a disorder of the nasal structure (congenital deformation of the septum or its damage due to injury).

Symptoms of acute sinusitis:

Ignoring the symptoms of acute maxillitis leads to the development of a chronic form of the pathology.

Chronic form of sinusitis

A distinctive feature is frequent exacerbations and discomfort (physical and psychological). If you start treating maxillitis at an early stage of its manifestation, this will help avoid the chronic form. Ignoring the manifestations of the chronic form of maxillitis is dangerous with negative consequences.

Inflammation, if not treated in time, will spread to neighboring organs, thereby causing complications, perhaps even irreversible.

Catarrhal type of sinusitis

It is characterized by discoloration and swelling of the nasal cavity, as well as inflammation of its mucous membrane. It is more common in children and appears due to allergic rhinitis, viral infections and nasal injuries.

The disease manifests itself:

Bilateral sinusitis

This type appears during complications of the main form of the disease. The reason is the presence of untreated inflammation or infection. If bilateral maxillitis is suspected, the otolaryngologist determines its presence by a simple method of palpation and visual examination, and prescribes complex treatment using physiotherapy and medications as an example.

What are the symptoms of bilateral type of sinusitis:

Productive sinusitis

It is manifested by the appearance of polyps and other neoplasms in the maxillary recesses.

There are several subtypes:

• Parietal-hyperplastic;
• Caseous;
• Polypous;
• Atrophic;
• Necrotic;
• Cholesteatoma.

During productive maxillitis, polyps appear in the cavities, deformation and growth of the mucous membrane occurs, and fluid secretion stops.

Atrophic type of disease

It is a subspecies of the productive type. The disease indicates partial death (atrophy) of the mucous membrane. The subspecies manifests itself with an unpleasant odor of sputum and pain in the maxillary cavities.

Necrotic type

This is also a subspecies of productive maxillitis, its most severe stage. This type of disease cannot be cured only with medications; in any case, surgical intervention is required.

Necrotic sinusitis occurs due to cell death (necrosis) in the maxillary cavities. It is often a precursor to GM abscess or meningitis.

Polypous type of disease

This type of sinusitis cannot be treated with medication; it is a subtype of productive sinusitis. Its manifestations can only be eliminated surgically. The main development factors are inflammation of the nasal mucosa, disruption of its anatomy (congenital or due to injury) and acute allergic reactions.

External manifestations:

This type of disease is treated only in a hospital setting. Only small polyps can be eliminated without surgery, but this method is not always effective.

Allergic maxillitis

Appears due to irritation of the mucous membrane of the sniffing organ (allergic type snot). Allergic sinusitis manifests itself mainly in the off-season. Treatment is carried out by eliminating the identified allergen from the patient’s daily routine. The specialist prescribes a full examination, allergen therapy and then restorative medications.

Symptoms of allergic sinusitis:

The allergic type of disease is paroxysmal; if left untreated, polyps may form in the nasal cavity.

Infectious sinusitis

The causative agents of the species can be fungi and viral microbacteria that enter the bowels of the human body when the body’s protective function fails. Inflammation in the form of maxillitis occurs under the influence of “uninvited guests” that have entered the body (such as Haemophilus influenzae, chlamydia, staphylococcus, streptococcus and other fungi).

The infectious type of maxillitis, when ignored, most often turns into a purulent type.

What is purulent type of sinusitis?

The disease occurs due to neglected or untreated infections of the nose, larynx and pharynx. Pathogens and their infected materials are also to blame. Advanced purulent sinusitis is dangerous due to subsequent damage to the bone layer and nearby tissues and organs.

Odontogenic type of disease

The key factor in the appearance of odontogenic sinusitis is bacteria that enter the maxillary cavities from the oral cavity and teeth infected with caries.

The main causative agents of the odontogenic type of sinusitis are microbacteria, for example:

This type of maxillitis is divided into perforated and non-perforated subspecies. The difference between them is that a perforated one, for example, is formed when a fistula appears after the removal of one of the teeth in the upper part of the jaw, which connects the oral cavity with the paranasal sinus. Pathogenic microorganisms can enter the sinuses through this hole.

The imperforate subtype of odontogenic sinusitis can be caused by chronic periodontitis (inflammation of the tissues surrounding the dental roots, which are responsible for the reliability of its fixation).

Often, an odontogenic type of disease appears due to simple non-compliance with banal hygienic standards regarding oral care (refusal to brush teeth).

Manifestations:

• Jaw pain;
• Decreased protective functions of the body;
• Damage to bone thickness.

The doctor can choose treatment only after accurately identifying the causative agent of the infection. In all cases, antibacterial drugs of various types, anti-allergenic and restorative medications are prescribed.

Vasomotor type of disease

Vasomotor sinusitis occurs due to disruption of the autonomic nervous system, namely the vasodilator and vasoconstrictor nerves.

This type of sinusitis is divided into allergic and neurovegetative subtypes.

Main manifestations:

Exudative type sinusitis

The name of the species comes from the term “exudate,” which means fluid secreted in the nose. It is characterized by purulent and serous discharge that lingers in the sniffing organ and becomes crusty. When maxillitis reaches a more advanced form, the exudate becomes watery and is released from the affected sinus in parts if the head is in a certain position.

Can sinusitis not be accompanied by high fever?

In acute maxillitis, body temperature remains at 37°C; increases can only be observed in the evening. The chronic form of sinusitis can go away completely without an increase in temperature, but in most cases slight fluctuations are present.

Attention! If during sinusitis the temperature is too high (above 38 ° C), then the body has ceased to cope with the infection on its own.

Sinusitis without fever occurs in certain cases:

Chronic sinusitis is difficult to diagnose due to the lack of symptoms. The sniffing organ breathes easily and there is no discharge.

The only manifestation that you should pay attention to is a night cough for no particular reason. What does this come from? When a person lies on his back, the secretion remaining in the cavities travels along the back wall of the nasopharynx to the lower respiratory tract, irritating their receptors and provoking a cough.

Symptoms

Signs of acute and chronic sinusitis in children and adults differ depending on the form of the pathology, the age of the patient and other factors. Symptoms are not local. In some cases, the signs of sinusitis are similar to the manifestations of other diseases.

When the disease is at the initial stage of development, it can be recognized by its primary symptoms:

Almost the same symptoms of a common cold at first glance. But quite quickly after the initial symptoms, symptoms more characteristic of the acute form of sinusitis appear.

Namely:

With chronic sinusitis, the picture is not so sad from the outside, but more aggravated from the inside. During remission, the presence of this form of the disease can only be indicated by a strong dry cough at night, despite the fact that there is no runny nose, no fever, or other characteristic symptoms accompanying this manifestation.

And this cough appears because the exudate remaining in the cavities flows into the lower respiratory organs when a person assumes a horizontal position.

Unfortunately, typical cough medications are powerless in this particular case.

In case of relapse, manifestations of chronic sinusitis look like this:

Diagnostics

If you notice the above symptoms, you should consult an otolaryngologist. The specialist makes a diagnosis based on several diagnostic stages.

Types of diagnostics:

How to determine the presence of sinusitis yourself

What to do if you have characteristic symptoms of sinusitis? If you are concerned about the manifestations described above, and there is no way to promptly go to the outpatient clinic, you can determine the presence of this disease yourself.

Tilt your head face down and hold the position for a few seconds. There will be a feeling of heaviness and pressure on the bridge of the nose. In a more advanced form, there is a sharp pain in the forehead. When the head returns to its previous position, after a few seconds the pain will subside and disappear completely.

This simple diagnostic method is approximate, but for the most part it indicates one form or another of maxillitis.

Treatment of pathology

When treating maxillitis, as in the case of any other disease, an integrated approach is the most effective.

Therapy methods:

• Drug treatment;
• Physiotherapy;
• Surgical methods;
• Ethnoscience.

Treatment for the acute type of the disease should be aimed at:

Taking the necessary medications in combination with other methods of therapy that do not include surgery will ensure complete recovery at the initial stage of the disease. Also, timely correct treatment prevents the development of more serious forms of sinusitis.

With relapse of acute sinusitis, the direction of treatment looks somewhat different. The main goal of therapy:

• Restoring the ability to breathe through the nose;
• Elimination of unpleasant symptoms;
• Destruction of the cause of exacerbation.

The acute form of sinusitis with a mild degree tends to disappear on its own. There are no special treatment regimens; therapy is aimed only at mitigating or eliminating manifestations. Symptomatic treatment does not eliminate the causes of the disease.

To relieve the general symptoms of exacerbation of sinusitis, anti-inflammatory drugs are used, and local vasoconstrictor medications are used to reduce swelling of the mucous membrane and restore nasal breathing. For hyperthermia, antipyretic drugs are used, and for intoxication, only antibiotics are used.

For your information. To avoid side effects and not to take antibacterial drugs in vain, topical antibiotics are used. Such medications will ensure the maximum concentration of the active substance directly at the site of the lesion.

If sinusitis is advanced, the channels connecting the nasal cavities with the paranasal sinuses become clogged with clots of blood, pus and mucus. In such cases, one or more punctures of the nasal sinus are prescribed, followed by cleaning it of pus and rinsing it with medications.

The main goals of this treatment:

Therapy consists of taking antihistamines and antibiotics, washing the sniffing organ with antiseptic agents (without puncture) and using vasoconstrictor nasal drops.

Important! If the doctor has prescribed antibacterial drugs, it is important to complete the entire course specified in the prescription, without interrupting, violating or shortening it in any way.

As a rule, a course of antibiotics lasts on average from 5 to 10, or even 15 days. Symptoms disappear almost on the third day of taking the drugs. If you stop the course, symptoms may return, and interrupting the medication is equivalent to stopping it.

Let's look at each type of therapy in more detail.

Medicines

Antibacterial drugs of the penicillin or tetracycline series are prescribed as the main medicine to suppress sinusitis blockers (harmful bacteria). They kill bacteria by destroying their walls. These antibiotics have a wide spectrum of action, a small number of adverse reactions, and stability in the gastric environment.

What antibiotics are the most effective for sinusitis in adults? Amoxicillin, Augmentin and Doxycycline are mainly prescribed. All three drugs are supplied in tablets and their effect is noticeable already on the 2nd day after starting administration. However, if you stop the course of treatment before the specified period, sinusitis may develop into a more complex degree, these remedies will no longer help and radical methods of treatment will be needed.

Important! Throughout the entire period of therapy (in the case of cold seasons), try to avoid going outside.

If this is not possible, it is important to minimize the time spent in the cold and wrap your face with a scarf to avoid hypothermia of the maxillary sinuses. The full course of treatment for acute inflammation can last up to 8 weeks.

Along with antibacterial agents, nasal drops or sprays are necessarily prescribed. The attending physician decides which medications to prescribe to eliminate the symptoms of sinusitis and treat the disease. According to the compiled medical history, the specialist selects the most effective remedy for each specific case.

You cannot use the same drops for more than 6-7 days, as they are addictive, and their effectiveness in this case is compared with the placebo effect.

For sinusitis and sinusitis, nasal drops of different effects are prescribed, according to need:

The most common: Protargol, Pinosol, Naphthyzin, Isofra, Nazivin, Sinuforte, Polydexa.

Real reviews of these and other commonly used drops for the treatment of sinusitis can be easily found on any forum.

Physiotherapy

Such treatment methods are no less important than taking medications. They strengthen the immune system, activating the body's internal reserves, help cleanse the maxillary sinuses, and relieve inflammation. In certain cases, correctly prescribed physiotherapy procedures make it possible to avoid surgical intervention.

Physiotherapy is the influence of natural or physical factors on the body. The effect of the techniques is achieved by creating a thermal and healing effect.

This type of treatment is effective, has virtually no side effects, is safe and does not cause physical pain.

Frequently prescribed procedures:

What and how to rinse the nose when treating sinusitis? Ideally, rinsing the nose with sea water in a natural environment, but not everyone can afford such treatment.

To achieve the desired effect, there is a modest alternative. So, a solution of sea salt, Dioxidin, Furacilin or propolis tincture can be used.

Rinse your nose correctly:

The “cuckoo” method in the treatment of sinusitis consists of the same rinsing of the nose with the solution shown. The main requirement is that when carrying out manipulations the patient must say “ku-ku”. This simple method tightly closes the larynx during pronunciation and the mouth becomes completely protected from pus, mucus or drugs getting into it.

Some physical therapy methods may be contraindicated in the following cases:

In fact, there may be many more contraindications. You need to consult a doctor in each individual case.

Surgery

When more loyal methods of therapy turn out to be ineffective or completely unsuccessful, and the patient only gets worse, the attending physician prescribes surgery. The main goal of surgery is to clean the canals between the turbinates and paranasal sinuses for their constant communication.

Surgery may involve:

During surgical intervention, in 9 out of 10 cases, sinusitis manifests itself a year after the operation. Some people think this is the fault of doctors or other factors, but in reality this is not the case. As a rule, surgical intervention is required in the severe stage of a chronic disease, when other methods are no longer effective.

Accordingly, the more cases of a chronic disease, the more its relapses.

The well-known puncture (or puncture) in the treatment of sinusitis is prescribed only in case of advanced disease. This method is also considered an operation, although not particularly complex. The puncture makes you feel better and helps you get rid of sinusitis completely. Side effects do occur, but in rare cases.

Indications for puncture:

A mini-operation is performed using a Kulikovsky needle. The nasal cavity is anesthetized with a potent agent and the bone tissue is punctured to the maxillary cavity. The puncture is made in a place where the bone is thinner so that rehabilitation is faster. A volumetric medical instrument in the form of a syringe is connected to the Kulikovsky needle and the cavity is washed with it, washing out blood clots, mucus and pus. Several types of solutions are used. These are decongestant and antiseptic drugs.

Before completing the procedure, a long-term substance is injected into the depths of the nasal cavity to further counteract the inflammatory process. Therapy during the rehabilitation period is selected by the attending physician, based on individual indicators.

When can you do without a puncture? If the patient’s immunity is strong enough and treatment for sinusitis began on time with strict adherence to all the doctor’s instructions, you don’t have to worry about the unpleasant upcoming procedure.

There is an alternative therapy using a sinus catheter. The method is called YAMIK, it consists in the natural “sucking” of its contents from the adnexal cavity. There are no punctures here: an elastic catheter is inserted directly into the sinus through a connecting channel. The procedure occurs naturally, so it is absolutely painless.

You can learn more about how you can cure sinusitis using the YAMIK method without a puncture from the video:

Alternative medicine methods

At the initial stage of sinusitis, if you choose your own treatment method for the primary symptoms and start it immediately, you can cure the disease at home. Traditional recipes are equally effective for both adults and children. However, they are applicable only if there is no allergy to the components used.

To treat severe forms of sinusitis, folk remedies alone are not enough. Prescriptions can be used as auxiliary therapy, but after consultation with a treating specialist.

Important! If you are undergoing drug therapy, do not select alternative medicine yourself. Some combinations of drugs and herbs can cause adverse reactions, or even completely neutralize each other's effects. Any means for treating the disease should be selected by an otolaryngologist.

Featured Recipes:

It is possible to cure sinusitis at the initial stage of its development at home. The fastest and most effective way is considered to be regular rinsing of the maxillary sinuses with solutions in order to quickly cleanse the nasal passages.

Contraindications for treating sinusitis at home:

• The presence of severe chronic diseases;
• Putrid odor from the mouth;
• Pregnancy;
• AIDS;
• Age up to 14 years;
• Deterioration of health when treatment is started.

Treatment of sinusitis in expectant mothers provides a somewhat limited range of options. Not every antibiotic can be safely used during pregnancy, just like unconventional methods, along with physiotherapy. Many drugs, herbs and methods of influence have an effect on the developing fetus, and therefore are prescribed only if their effectiveness is higher than the risk to the baby. Therapy should be selected by the attending physician.

Generally, preference is given to Sinuforte and Sinupret - anti-inflammatory drugs that increase immunity and dilute purulent clots. Rinsing the nasal sinuses and inhalations are also appropriate, but in advanced cases a puncture is prescribed.

Are diets necessary?

We are what we eat. And when treating any disease, it is important to control your diet.

Since the patient needs to drink plenty of fluids to quickly remove harmful bacteria and expectorate mucus, special attention should be paid to drinks.

So, when treating maxillitis, the following should be present:

• Mineral water of natural origin. It normalizes water balance, increases the body's defenses and improves blood circulation.
• Healing tea drinks from medicinal herbs. The best option is a decoction of chamomile, St. John's wort, rose hips, string and tea rose. Regular warm drinks and steam from a cup of aromatic drink moisturize the mucous membrane of the smelling organ, remove mucus and make breathing easier.
• Natural freshly squeezed vegetable juice from beets, cucumbers, carrots or spinach. Drinks can be mixed in different proportions or drunk separately.

As for nutrition, a menu rich in vitamins will help in the successful treatment of sinusitis.

The patient's menu should include:

This selection of components will restore the appetite lost during illness and provide the recovering body with sufficient nutrients.

Elena Malysheva will tell us about all the methods of treating sinusitis in the following video:

Consequences

Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses is a fairly serious disease that requires timely treatment. If therapy is not started in time, the consequences can be very unpleasant. Although in some cases, even after treatment, complications are possible.

Troubles that may arise after sinusitis include:

Prevention measures

Prevention will help prevent the development of sinusitis or stop it at the initial stage, preventing complications. These measures are especially important when a runny nose appears, as well as during an epidemic of colds. People who have had sinusitis at least once should also adhere to preventive measures.

You can protect yourself and your loved ones by observing the following conditions:

1. Dress according to the weather - do not overheat or overcool your body. During the cold season, do not refuse to wear a hat.
2. Treat acute viral infections, sore throat, and caries in a timely manner. Do not allow the development of inflammatory processes.
3. Strengthen your immunity. This is well facilitated by physical activity, hardening the body, walking in the fresh air and taking vitamins.
4. Control your home microclimate. The air in the room should not be too dry or humid, hot or cold.

Tip: to humidify the air in the room, you can use vases with water, adding essential oil or lemon juice to the liquid.

Remember about disease provocateurs:

What do consumers think about treatment options?

Adherents of unconventional methods of therapy prefer effective folk recipes in the treatment of sinusitis. People's reviews of the selected recipes are mostly positive.

Ekaterina, 56 years old, Sverdlovsk. I had the opportunity to become acquainted with sinusitis relatively recently: I used to live in Sochi, and the maritime climate protected me from this disease for a long time. As soon as I felt the first symptoms, I immediately started rinsing my nose with a simple solution based on beet juice. Already on the second day I felt relief, and soon I completely forgot about the ailment that tormented me. Now, in case of the first signs of an insidious disease, this is the only remedy I can save myself from, recommending it to everyone I know.

Anastasia, 23 years old, Taganrog. Until now, I had never encountered sinusitis, and now I got sick. Since I am a cautious person, at the first incomprehensible symptoms I went to the doctor and for good reason! If I had waited another week, I wouldn’t have avoided hospitalization. I was treated with simple improvised means: I dripped cyclamen juice into my nose and washed it with a solution of lemon juice. I also went to UHF and had a massage. My therapy was limited to this. I felt a noticeable improvement within 2-3 days. I never thought that sinusitis could be cured so simply: in my mind this diagnosis always sounded like a death sentence and made me shudder. Two years have passed, during which time I began to follow the doctor’s recommendations regarding the prevention of the disease and have not yet gotten sick.

Ivan, 38 years old, Vyborg. Chronic sinusitis has haunted me almost my entire adult life. For me, puncture is comparable to daily washing. I tried many different methods on myself, although I knew that only expensive medications would help in my case. But, oddly enough, I still found my own method of saving myself from feeling unwell during an exacerbation. This is an onion. The recipe recommends grating it, but for me it’s enough to finely chop a few onions for cutlets, then “tears of happiness” for a couple of minutes, and everything comes off as if by hand, though for a while. Onions are the best option for me. Firstly, it helps me save money on medications during periods of exacerbations (and they happen to me often), and besides, my whole family loves onion cutlets. The method is really effective, I highly recommend it!

Conclusion

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinuses is a serious disease that should not be neglected, lest it lead to serious consequences. At the initial stage, this disease can be cured even at home, without much effort. Do not be afraid to consult a doctor with symptoms similar to sinusitis: not all cases require surgical intervention to treat it.

Dr. Komarovsky will tell us everything about sinusitis from “A” to “Z” in the following video:

Frequent colds, prolonged runny noses, untreated dental problems - all these are factors that are harbingers of such a common disease as sinusitis. It is very important to identify the disease at the initial stage, promptly seek help from specialists and begin treatment. Advanced sinusitis is much more difficult to cure, and it also leads to serious consequences.

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The first signs of sinusitis

Sinusitis is one of the types. This is an infectious-inflammatory process, localized on the mucous membrane of one of the sinuses. Sinusitis develops in the sinus above the upper jaw or, in other words, in the maxillary sinus.
Sinusitis is one of those diseases that needs to be detected as early as possible. To do this, you need to know what changes occur in the body at the very beginning of the disease.

• General weakness- due to intoxication of the body by decay products of microorganisms that actively multiply in the inflamed sinuses;
• lack of appetite- mainly due to nasal congestion and the inability to perceive odors;
• elevated temperature- can reach 40 degrees, indicating an infectious process;
• chills- how the body reacts to hyperthermia or an inflammatory process;
• rhinorrhea- mucus secreted by the mucous membrane at the beginning of the disease may be transparent and resemble a common runny nose. But if it lasts more than 1 week, then this is a reason to consult a doctor;
• pain- in the head, especially tilting it down, and also radiating into the eyes, forehead, ears;
• swelling and redness of the eyelids- due to the close localization of the inflammatory process.

Detecting the disease at an early stage is difficult because its first signs are very similar to those of a cold, flu, or respiratory infections.

If therapeutic measures are not taken at the beginning of the development of the disease, then further symptoms will be more pronounced.

• Nasal discharge- become purulent due to progressive infection in the sinuses;
• pain in the maxillary sinuses- occurs with pressure, and in some cases without external irritation. This is one of the signs of the inflammatory process;
• decreased sense of smell- due to the spread of the pathological process to the receptors;
• cough- copious nasal discharge may descend along the wall of the nasopharynx;
• earache- The maxillary sinus is anatomically connected to the ear cavity. Infection and inflammation can spread to it.

It is difficult to recognize pneumosclerosis in the early stages without x-ray examination. Detection will help you start treatment on time.

The transition of a dry cough to a wet one signals the development of acute bronchitis. about methods of treating this disease.

Forecast

With timely treatment, sinusitis is not difficult to cure. But due to the fact that patients do not attach much importance to the first signs of the disease, complications may arise:

• Otitis- when pus gets into the middle ear cavity;
• tonsillitis- with a descending course of the disease;
• - one of the most serious complications when inflammation spreads to the membranes of the brain.

Chronic sinusitis means the constant presence of pathogenic bacteria in the body, and they can cause the following diseases:

• Kidney diseases;
• heart diseases such as myocarditis and hypertension;
• neurological problems.

An infection in the head is very serious. Therefore, due attention should be paid to such seemingly ordinary signs. It can even become a dangerous beginning of a serious pathological process. Therefore, at the first suspicion of a disease, you should consult an otolaryngologist. He will accurately diagnose the patient and, if necessary, prescribe the necessary treatment.

In contact with

Sinusitis- This is a disease known to everyone, as it occurs quite often in people of all ages. It is characterized by inflammation of the maxillary sinus, namely its mucous membrane. In addition, this process may be accompanied by damage to other paranasal sinuses and may be unilateral or bilateral.

The reason for the development of sinusitis in adults is the closure of the outlet openings connecting the paranasal sinuses with the nasal cavity due to swelling. This causes the accumulation of a large amount of mucus, which is not removed naturally, which leads to inflammation.

The maxillary sinuses are located in the region of the maxillary bone. They are connected by adjacent walls to the eye sockets, the oral and nasal cavities. Just like other paranasal sinuses, they are covered from the inside with a small layer of cells. Moreover, they are adjacent precisely to the bone. If the inflammatory process caused by sinusitis begins, it usually spreads to the blood vessels, epithelial layer, and loose tissue. When it comes to the chronic form of sinusitis, the inflammatory process affects the submucosa, as well as the bone tissue of the sinuses. This disease is diagnosed in both adults and children. The peak incidence occurs during the cold period of the year.

Common causes of sinusitis

The appearance of sinusitis in adults can be associated with many factors. Often the main role in the maturation of the disease is played by infections that spread to the upper respiratory tract. Often, pathological processes occurring in the nasal and oral cavities also cause sinusitis. But most often it occurs with an advanced runny nose, during the period of measles and scarlet fever or flu, less often - with dental disease.

It is worth highlighting the most common causes of sinusitis in adults:

• tendency to allergies;
• decreased protective functions of the body;
• congenital anatomical anomaly of the nasal structure;
• unfavorable environment;
• growths in the nose (polyps);
• untimely treatment of colds;
• advanced runny nose;
• dental diseases;
• chronic rhinitis;
• tumor neoplasms;
• infectious dental diseases.

Deviated septum and proliferation of nasal turbinates, incorrectly fused bones after a fracture are the most common anatomical defects that provoke the development of sinusitis. Such disorders do not allow mucus to drain normally, which causes stagnation of secretions in the sinuses. Chronic edema creates a load on the sinuses, contributes to the narrowing of the outlet openings, which aggravates the outflow of mucous secretions. All these factors taken together create an ideal environment for the proliferation of pathogens.

Regardless of the reasons for the development of sinusitis in an adult, the symptoms of the disease rarely occur without a trace. Moreover, even minor manifestations may indicate an inflammatory process that spreads to the maxillary sinuses, so the slightest deviation from the norm should alert and lead to action against infection.

What are the symptoms of sinusitis?

The main symptoms to look for when making a diagnosis:

• chills;
• temperature;
• severe headaches, acute when bending the head or coughing;
• nasal congestion;
• loss of smell;
• presence of purulent discharge.

• With sinusitis, photophobia sometimes appears. This means that when the room is brightly lit, the patient experiences lacrimation. This is easily explained by the fact that inflammation also affects the periosteum, which leads to disruption of the lacrimal glands. Often, lacrimation is accompanied by an unpleasant pain and burning sensation in the eyes.
• During this period, the body temperature at the height of the inflammatory process sometimes reaches 40 degrees. In this case, chills and lethargy in the body are noted.
• Loss of smell is also a consequence of sinusitis in adults. When the functions of the maxillary sinuses are impaired, the sharpness of taste sensations decreases or completely disappears.
• Sinusitis is also accompanied by a deterioration in a person’s general condition. Toxins arising during the life of pathogenic microorganisms lead to poisoning of the body. For this reason, the patient's condition is characterized by a decrease in general tone. Along with this, loss of appetite occurs and the quality of sleep deteriorates.
• During the course of this disease, breathing becomes significantly more difficult. Another common symptom is quite severe pain in the paranasal sinuses. They can intensify even more if pressure is applied to the corresponding parts of the face. Based on these signs, we can conclude that inflammation of the paranasal sinuses has begun.

If sinusitis becomes a chronic disease, the sense of smell may decrease and malaise and fatigue may appear..

Symptoms of acute sinusitis

• Chills, body weakness
• Temperature increase
• Pain in the frontal part of the head, toothache
• Copious mucus discharge, sometimes with pus
• Decreased or complete loss of sense of smell

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis

• Rapid weakening of the body's resources
• General malaise
• Lack of smell
• Disturbed nasal breathing
• Complete nasal congestion
• Unbearable headache

Symptoms of an allergic form of sinusitis

• Itchy nose
• Severe pain in the head and forehead
• Copious mucus discharge from the nasal cavity
• Lack of nasal breathing
• Feeling of pressure in the bridge of the nose and eyebrows

Allergic sinusitis is characterized by a wave-like manifestation with constant remissions. A specific picture of the disease emerges taking into account the patient’s complaints and examination.

Symptoms of the disease in children

As a rule, the symptoms of sinusitis in a child are not much different from the course of the disease in an adult. Children also experience weakness, sleep disturbances, moodiness, and loss of appetite. In some cases, a body temperature of 39 degrees is noted. The child may complain of a severe headache. It is also worth noting the presence of copious purulent nasal discharge. In this case, loss of smell and taste cannot be avoided. If inflammation is accompanied by severe swelling, there may be no discharge. But the child’s face in such a situation swells noticeably. Parents should take the manifestation of such symptoms seriously and take appropriate measures in a timely manner, i.e. visit a doctor and follow all his prescriptions. Self-treatment of sinusitis can lead to serious consequences.

Diagnosis of the disease

Sinusitis is sometimes confused with colds and ordinary rhinitis. Therefore, it is not always possible to recognize the problem in a timely manner. Only after a certain period of time, when all tried methods of treating a runny nose are ineffective, and the headache is unbearable, does the patient consult a doctor.

The diagnosis is made by a qualified specialist. First of all, the doctor studies the patient’s medical history and then begins to examine the nasal cavity. During palpation, the ENT determines painful areas.

When a visual examination and the listed symptoms of the patient are not enough, the doctor prescribes an x-ray examination. This is the most convenient diagnostic tool that allows you to clearly outline the picture of the disease. In the picture, sinusitis has the appearance of a darkening that occurs in the affected sinus. In a normal state, the color intensity of the paranasal sinuses is the same as that of the orbit. True, this method is not always acceptable for diagnosing sinusitis in a child, since similar changes occur in them with ordinary rhinitis.

But the most informative diagnostic method was, and to this day remains, a puncture of the sinus, the so-called puncture. The procedure is carried out using a needle, which pierces the wall of the damaged sinus. Next, the specialist draws the contents with a syringe, and then rinses the sinuses with an antiseptic solution. But puncture occurs in extreme cases, when all other diagnostic methods have been unsuccessful.

However, it is worth noting that after the puncture the development of the following complications is possible:

• embolism of blood vessels;
• abscess development;
• emphysema of the orbit or cheek;
• phlegmon of the orbit.

Based on the clinical picture and the examination results, the doctor draws appropriate conclusions and prescribes appropriate treatment.

Principles of treatment of sinusitis

The presence of these symptoms indicates the progression of the disease. In order to determine the optimal treatment for sinusitis in adults, it is recommended to consult a doctor. However, the patient must take some measures on his own.

• Complete smoking cessation
• Increasing the amount of fluid consumed daily

One of the most common and effective diagnostic methods is radiography. The picture clearly shows how the disease progresses, which allows you to determine the optimal treatment. If the disease did not lead to any complications, and the diagnosis was made as quickly as possible, the full course of therapy takes no more than two weeks.

As a rule, treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis, but in cases with acute phases, hospitalization may be indicated. If we talk about the treatment of sinusitis, then you need to resort to help:

• broad-spectrum antibiotics; (read: " ")
• vasoconstrictors;
• products in the form of drops, the action of which is aimed at softening and restoring the mucous membrane; (read about the best drops)
• folk remedies.

Traditional medicine is presented in the form of various inhalations and drops prepared using herbal infusions and decoctions. More details:

If the patient is found to have an advanced stage, which is characterized by a number of complications, immediate surgical intervention may be required. It involves puncturing the maxillary sinus.

Drug treatment

If the nasal passages are open, mucus is evacuated naturally. In this case, medications can easily penetrate the damaged nasal sinuses, providing a therapeutic effect. Nasal rinsing helps a lot. This helps clear mucus from your sinuses. And the use of antiseptic solutions makes it possible to reduce inflammation and relieve swelling.

Furacilin solution

It gently relieves inflammation and prevents its further spread to nearby tissues.

Isotonic solution

You can prepare it yourself or purchase it at any nearest pharmacy kiosk. But it is necessary to coordinate the use of this solution with your doctor. The saline solution has an osmotic effect. In such a situation, the nasal cavity is washed, followed by the removal of mucus from the surrounding tissues.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics such as Ampicillin, Cefazolin or Amoxicillin are used to rinse the nasal cavity. But such measures are resorted to only if there are no positive results in previous treatment methods. More information is written on this.

Medicines for sinusitis

1. Antihistamines help relieve swelling and facilitate the removal of mucus from the paranasal sinuses. These drugs block the formation of histamines, proteins that cause allergic reactions. Such drugs include Suprastin, Claritin and Tavegil.
2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce pain and have an anti-inflammatory effect. As a result, swelling occurs, the outflow of mucous secretions is facilitated, and the pressure on bone tissue is reduced.
3. Antibiotics may be required only for certain indications:

- the inflammatory process continues to develop, despite treatment with the listed drugs;

— during laboratory tests, the causative agent of the infection was identified;

- inflammation spreads to nearby tissues, which can lead to serious complications.

Physiotherapeutic procedures

Such methods definitely speed up recovery and alleviate the condition of patients. But physical therapy cannot be considered as the main treatment for sinusitis in adults. Such procedures may be prescribed as an addition to drug treatment. The most effective of them:

• electropheresis;
• UHF therapy;
• ultrasound treatment;
• inhalation with the use of drugs.

True, there are a number of contraindications to physiotherapeutic procedures:

• presence of formations (polyps, tumors);
• increased body temperature;
• inflammatory process in an advanced stage.

Traditional methods of treatment

It is immediately worth noting that unconventional methods of treatment must be agreed upon with the attending physician. In addition, they should under no circumstances be the basis of treatment. Traditional medicine should be used only to enhance the therapeutic effect.

Self-treatment of sinusitis is especially dangerous for people who suffer from an allergic disease. After all, herbal products often provoke even greater swelling and significantly aggravate the course of the disease.

• Propolis tincture

Add ½ teaspoon of 30% tincture to boiling water. Then the fire is turned off and inhalation is carried out. You need to bow your head over the pan, cover yourself with a terry towel and inhale the medicinal vapors.

• Herbal collection

To prepare the product, take 2 tsp. St. John's wort, eucalyptus, chamomile, sage, lavender, 1 tbsp. l. yarrow and string. Next 3 tbsp. l. herbal mixture is poured with boiling water (2 l). The resulting decoction is taken half a glass throughout the day. Before going to bed, it is advisable to inhale using this decoction.

• Cyclamen juice

This remedy will help cope with headaches that often accompany sinusitis. The patient should take a horizontal position and drop two drops of juice into each nasal passage. After five minutes, the following reaction can be observed: a strong fever appears, the patient begins to sweat intensely, sneeze, and cough. After such a procedure, the next day there is a profuse discharge of thick purulent contents from the nose, which is the cause of unbearable headaches. The patient gradually returns to quality sleep, and the disease recedes.

• Salt warming

It’s worth saying right away that this method of treatment is acceptable only in the early stages of sinusitis. When the inflammatory process is in an advanced form, heating can aggravate the problem and provoke additional health problems. To carry out the procedure, you will need a fabric bag with table salt, which must be heated in a frying pan. Then it needs to be cooled to 45 degrees and applied to the bridge of the nose and wings of the nose. Keep the bag until it cools completely. Dry herbs can be used instead of salt.

• Bay leaf

Inhalations with bay leaves will not only have a warming effect, but will also help reduce inflammation. You need to take ten bay leaves for a glass of water. After the water boils, keep the pan on the stove for another five minutes. Next, the fire is reduced or turned off completely and inhalation is carried out until the broth cools completely.

• Homemade ointment

To prepare it you will need honey, milk, vegetable oil, alcohol, onion, and grated laundry soap. The prepared components are combined and placed in a suitable container, after which it is sent to a water bath. During the preparation process, the product should be stirred periodically. The readiness of the ointment can be judged by its uniform viscous consistency. The resulting ointment will need to be cooled and stored in the refrigerator. For medicinal purposes, the ointment is applied to a rolled cotton swab and inserted into each nasal passage for ten minutes. The procedure is repeated three times a day. The course of treatment is a week.

• Drops made from natural ingredients

To prepare the product, you need to combine 1 tsp. natural honey and the same amount of onion and potato juice. The therapeutic mixture is dripped into the nose 5-6 times a day. It is worth noting that honey can be used as a separate remedy for the treatment of sinusitis. 1 drop of liquid honey is dripped into each nasal passage, while you need to draw in air. At first there may be a complete absence of nasal breathing, but over time the congestion will disappear. You can also combine aloe juice, celandine and honey in equal proportions. This product is dripped into each nasal passage, 5-6 drops up to five times a day.

Possible complications

Chronic sinusitis in adults sometimes causes a relapse of sore throat or pharyngitis. Often, against the background of infection of the body, dental disease is observed. Acute sinusitis in rare cases provokes trigeminal neuritis, which is usually accompanied by unbearable attacks of headache.

Complications associated with the spread of infection to other organs of the body include:

• tonsillitis;
• adenoiditis;
• bronchitis;
• pneumonia;
• otitis;
• meningoencephalitis;
• meningitis.

But one of the most severe consequences of sinusitis is sepsis. For its development, two conditions are sufficient: weakened immunity and a purulent focus. Pyogenic bacteria tend to penetrate all organs and tissues with the outflow of blood. As a result, the brain, intestines and liver suffer, where secondary purulent foci occur.

Prevention of sinusitis

• Timely treatment of colds and in particular runny nose
• Do not neglect medical care in case of advanced disease
• Do not self-medicate
• To refuse from bad habits
• Avoid contact with infected people
• Treat dental problems as they arise

In order to avoid the occurrence of sinusitis in adults, it is necessary to remember preventive actions. In case of acute respiratory diseases, flu or acute runny nose, maximum attention should be paid to their treatment. This will avoid further complications.

In addition, care should be taken to eliminate other predisposing factors. These include a deviated nasal septum or synechiae in the nasal cavity.

Hardening also has an excellent preventive effect, which can make the body more resistant to other common diseases.

From this article you will learn:

• sinusitis: symptoms, treatment,
• the main signs of sinusitis in adults and children,
• Is it possible to treat sinusitis at home in adults?

Sinusitis is an inflammatory disease of the maxillary sinuses located in the upper jaw (Fig. 1). This disease is often also called “sinusitis”. This is due to the fact that the maxillary sinuses in the professional literature are often called the “maxillary sinus”.

Sinusitis is most often unilateral, i.e. As a rule, only one sinus becomes inflamed. Only in rare cases does inflammation occur in both maxillary sinuses at once.

Sinusitis: photo, diagram

Each person has two maxillary sinuses, which are located to the left and right of the nasal passages. Each of the maxillary sinuses is a cavity in the thickness of the bone, lined from the inside with mucous membrane. Each sinus communicates with the middle nasal passage through a small hole in the bony wall separating the nasal passage and sinus.

Sinusitis: symptoms in adults

Important: Symptoms of sinusitis in adults can vary greatly in each clinical case. This is due to the fact that sinusitis can occur in three different forms, each of which has its own symptoms -

• in the form of acute inflammation,
• in the form of chronic inflammation,
• exacerbation of chronic inflammation.

The nature of the inflammatory process also influences the symptoms. It can be serous (inflammatory exudate without purulent contents), purulent, and also polyposis (when polyps begin to grow on the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus).

1. Symptoms of acute sinusitis -

At the very beginning of inflammation, the patient may only be bothered by malaise, because... During this period of the disease, only swelling of the mucous membranes of the maxillary sinus and nose occurs (without the development of purulent inflammation). However, swelling of the mucous membrane leads to a narrowing or complete closure of the opening between the maxillary sinus and the nasal cavity, which leads to disruption of the outflow of inflammatory infiltrate from the maxillary sinus and blockage of the sinus. This leads to the development of acute purulent inflammation in the sinus (sinuses).

During this period, the patient may complain of –

• Lethargy, weakened sense of smell, chills, loss of appetite, weakness,
• Body temperature rises to 37.5 - 39.0 degrees (sometimes up to 40 degrees),
• Increasing pain, which is initially localized near the inflamed sinus, but then can spread to the frontal, temporal, occipital regions, as well as to the area of ​​the teeth, which can simulate their inflammation.
• A feeling of heaviness may appear in the corresponding half of the face, which is typical if only one maxillary sinus is inflamed,
• Mucus or pus may be released from the nasal passage on the side of the inflamed maxillary sinus, which is especially intensified when the head is tilted forward (Fig. 5). In the morning, you can also see traces of purulent fluid leaking from the nose on the pillow.
• With severe sinusitis, swelling of the soft tissues of the face, their redness, as well as the development of purulent inflammation in the oral cavity may also be observed.
• When pressing on the skin in the projection of the anterior wall of the sinus, pain may be felt; There may also be pain when tapping on the teeth located in the projection of the inflamed sinus (usually the 5th, 6th, 7th teeth of the upper jaw).

Signs of acute sinusitis on an x-ray –
On an x-ray, an inflamed sinus will always be darkened compared to a healthy sinus. If the darkening is intense, this indicates that the sinus is filled with pus. To confirm suppuration, a sinus puncture may be performed. A computed tomography (CT) scan may be done instead of an x-ray. CT is more expensive, but more informative for making a diagnosis.

2. Symptoms of chronic sinusitis -

Chronic sinusitis can be either an independent form of the disease or the result of poorly treated acute sinusitis. There are three forms of chronic sinusitis:

• Catarrhal form –
  is characterized by an almost asymptomatic course, but sometimes patients may complain of a feeling of heaviness in a certain half of the face, periodic disruption of nasal breathing, and some malaise at the end of the day. When examining the nose, an ENT doctor may detect cyanosis of the mucous membrane of the nasal passage. X-ray may be inconclusive, but a CT scan may show thickening of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus at the site of inflammation.

3. Symptoms of exacerbation of chronic sinusitis -

Due to various reasons (hypothermia, decreased immunity, etc.), low-grade inflammation in the sinus can become acute. Those. an exacerbation of the chronic process occurs with the development of acute symptoms of inflammation, which will be identical to the symptoms of the acute form of sinusitis (described above).

Sinusitis: causes of development

Sinusitis - treatment will be different, depending on the cause of its development. The reasons may be -

• acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the nose (rhinogenic sinusitis),
• foci of inflammation at the roots of the upper teeth (approximately 32%),
• fractures of the upper jaw and zygomatic bone (traumatic sinusitis),
• allergic sinusitis (a consequence of allergic rhinitis).

Predisposing factors include: abuse of sprays for the common cold, active and passive smoking (website).

Rhinogenic sinusitis –
This form of sinusitis occurs in 62% of patients. It can be acute or chronic. Acute rhinogenic sinusitis usually develops against the background of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza due to nasal congestion and difficulty in the outflow of inflammatory exudate from the maxillary sinus into the middle nasal passage. Those. the trigger is a virus, and a bacterial infection joins only later.

Chronic rhinogenic sinusitis develops against the background of chronic inflammation in the nasal passages and chronic nasal congestion. Chronic rhinogenic sinusitis is caused in most cases by a bacterial infection, sometimes by a fungal infection.

As a rule, patients with chronic nasal congestion use drops for a runny nose for a long time and constantly, which only increases the risk of developing sinusitis (for chronic congestion, you should use not traditional drops for a runny nose, but sprays with a low content of corticosteroids, for example, Nasonex, which can be used apply for 2-3 months).

Odontogenic sinusitis –
the development of so-called “dental” sinusitis is associated with the anatomical proximity of the apexes of the roots of the teeth of the upper jaw to the lower wall of the maxillary sinus. The most common “dental” cause of inflammation of the sinuses is chronic foci of inflammation (cysts) at the apexes of the roots of the teeth of the upper jaw (Fig. 12).

However, inflammation can also provoke the removal of teeth 5, 6, 7, if during removal the tip of the tooth root is pushed into the sinus, or a communication occurs between the sinus and the oral cavity through the socket of the extracted tooth. Such a message should be immediately sutured tightly by a doctor immediately after removing the tooth from the socket. Sometimes doctors neglect this... Also, inflammation can be caused by refilling the root canals of the 5-6-7 teeth of the upper jaw, if excess filling material gets into the sinus or near it.

Important: It is often difficult to determine the cause of sinusitis; in any case, it is necessary to take targeted x-rays of the chewing teeth of the upper jaw in the projection of the inflamed maxillary sinus. If the photographs of these teeth show no foci of chronic inflammation, then the origin of sinusitis is almost certainly associated with an infection in the nasal passages.

Below we will talk about whether and how to cure sinusitis at home, what antibiotics to take for sinusitis, which nasal drops for sinusitis are best used (vasoconstrictors for a runny nose or with low doses of corticosteroids)…

Sinusitis: treatment

How to treat sinusitis will depend on the cause of its occurrence (rhinogenic or odontogenic) and the nature of the inflammatory process (serous or purulent). For example, it is simply pointless to treat sinus inflammation with punctures, rinsing, and antibiotics if you have pockets of untreated chronic infection on your teeth in the projection of the inflamed sinus.

You need to understand that a cure for sinusitis is not just any drug (such drugs do not exist) ... First of all, it is a whole complex of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (rinsing the sinuses with antiseptics, sinusotomy, dental treatment), and as an addition - the use of a complex of drugs : drops, antibiotics, etc.

Thus, for an initial consultation you need to contact an ENT doctor. However, an experienced ENT specialist will also refer you to a dentist in order to rule out the cause of sinusitis associated with inflammation at the roots of the teeth. Doctors will refer you to the necessary x-rays of the teeth and sinuses, or a computed tomography scan of the upper jaw. Further treatment is planned taking into account the identified cause of sinus inflammation, symptoms, as well as X-ray or CT data.

1. Treatment of acute and chronic rhinogenic sinusitis -

Acute rhinogenic sinusitis in the absence of suppuration in the sinus can be treated without the use of antibiotics (this is possible if the patient consults a doctor promptly). In this case, the main thing is to create an outflow for the inflammatory exudate formed in the maxillary sinus, by eliminating nasal congestion using drops or sprays for a runny nose, as well as stimulating the outflow of inflammatory exudate from the sinuses.

Traditional vasoconstrictor drops and sprays for sinusitis can be used for no more than 3-4 days. Long-term use of such drops and sprays for a runny nose leads to the opposite effect - persistent swelling of the mucous membrane, which will prevent the drainage of inflammatory exudate from the sinuses through the nose. To relieve nasal congestion and swelling of the mucous membrane during sinusitis, it is optimal to use:

If pus begins to form in the sinus (this can happen in acute sinusitis in the case of a bacterial infection, and in chronic sinusitis), then this is an indication for immediate antibiotic therapy, as well as daily procedures for rinsing the sinus with antiseptic solutions (the latter is done at the appointment from an ENT doctor). You won’t be able to rinse your sinuses on your own, but you can only rinse your nasal passages at most, which is not enough.

2. Treatment of odontogenic sinusitis –

The most important thing in treating this form of sinusitis is to eliminate the source of infection that led to sinus inflammation. This may be the removal of the causative tooth. If you want to preserve the causative tooth, at the apex of the root of which there is an inflammatory focus in the form of or, an urgent opening of this tooth is necessary to create an outflow of pus from the cyst cavity through the tooth. Without fulfilling this requirement, all subsequent treatment will be in vain.

Next, you need to create an outflow for the inflammatory exudate formed in the sinus. At the very beginning of inflammation, this can be done with the help of vasoconstrictor nasal drops, however, if purulent inflammation develops, this will no longer be enough. Here you need to urgently run to an ENT doctor and have a puncture and rinse of the maxillary sinus on the side of the nose or the socket of an extracted tooth. In parallel, antibacterial therapy (see below) and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.

After acute purulent inflammation in the sinus subsides, an ENT doctor or maxillofacial surgeon decides on the need for a “sinusrotomy”. This operation is indicated for the development of purulent or polypous forms of sinusitis. In this case, the patient is hospitalized. The operation involves removing the inflamed mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus. This is done under anesthesia, with access from the oral cavity. Before surgery, all teeth must be treated.

Antibiotics for sinusitis -

Sinusitis: antibiotic treatment is best started with Amoxicillin in combination with Clavulanic acid. Trade names of such drugs: “Augumentin”, “Amoxiclav”. If the patient has allergic reactions to penicillin, antibiotics from the fluoroquinolone group (for example, Ciprofloxacin) or the macrolide group (Clarithromycin, Azithromycin) are considered.

The first analysis of the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy is carried out after 5 days; if no improvement is achieved during this time, then a more potent antibiotic is prescribed. Antibiotics for sinusitis are prescribed for an average of 10-14 days. However, there are exceptional clinical cases when antibiotics are prescribed for up to 21 days.

Treatment of sinusitis with folk remedies -

You need to understand that folk remedies cannot be the main method of treatment. They should only be considered as secondary therapy. There are excellent herbal drops for sinusitis, which are used to stimulate the outflow of inflammatory secretions (exudate) from the maxillary sinus through the nasal passages.

Treatment of sinusitis with folk remedies: the most effective drugs

How to treat sinusitis at home: quickly

You must understand that sinusitis with suppuration is a focus of pus in the center of the head, the size of a golf ball. And in addition to pus (which can contain not only bacteria, but also fungi, which requires different treatments), there can also be polyps. If you suddenly decide that an expensive antibiotic and nasal drops may be enough, then most likely you will be deeply mistaken. The consequence of ineffective treatment will be the transformation of the acute form of sinusitis into a chronic one, with the need for surgical intervention (sinusrotomy, in a hospital setting).

The most you can do at home is to regularly rinse your nasal passages and also take appropriate medications (tablets, injections, drops). Keep in mind that when there is no purulent inflammation in the sinus yet, treatment can be carried out in a clinic. If acute purulent inflammation of the sinus has developed, then hospital treatment is necessary. Complications of sinusitis with improper treatment: phlegmon, sepsis, thrombophlebitis of facial veins, orbital abscess, brain abscess... We hope that our article on the topic: How to cure sinusitis at home was useful to you!

Sources:

1. Higher prof. the author's education in surgical dentistry,
2. Based on personal experience in maxillofacial surgery and dental surgery,
3. National Library of Medicine (USA),
4. “Guide to maxillofacial surgery” (Timofeev A.A.),
5. “Complex treatment of odontogenic maxillary sinusitis” (Shulman F.).