Often discomfort in the frontal sinuses is referred to as headache. But it is important to distinguish between these phenomena, since they are very different. If the frontal sinus hurts, then usually this is attributed to a disease such as frontal sinusitis. With this disease, inflammation occurs in the nasal mucosa. The causes and treatment of pain are described in the article.
What is the frontal sinus?
Inflammation of the frontal sinus is in about 15% of the total population. You can protect yourself from infections, viruses, but the frontal sinus suffers during the common cold, flu, or frequent headaches. The frontal sinus is located above the nose and is the front void, and is connected with the nasopharynx through the fronto-nasal fold. Due to the anatomical feature, it is through it that many viruses and infections cause pain.
This camera is presented in the form of a paired organ. Therefore, inflammation is always observed throughout the forehead. The frontal sinus is different in structure, size, volume. But usually it takes about 5 cubic meters. see and looks like a triangle. Inside this area is the mucous membrane. People of different ages may experience pain in this place. Whatever happens, treatment is required.
Causes
Why do frontal sinuses hurt ? There are many causes of inflammation, most of them relate to weakening of general and local immunity. Frontitis comes from a viral, bacterial or fungal infection. Inflammation is acute and chronic.
In the acute stage of the disease, there is a sharp swelling of the nasal mucosa, and pain appears both on one side and both simultaneously (bilateral frontal sinusitis). The chronic appearance occurs due to anatomical abnormalities, as well as due to incorrect or late treatment.
Chronic ailments of the nasopharynx
If the frontal sinus hurts, then the cause may be in chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract (sinusitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis). Pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria), developing in the nasopharyngeal mucosa, weaken the immune system, and the infection spreads to the internal sinuses.
The characteristic feature of inflammation is then considered a wave-like course of the disease, probably the disappearance of signs of the disease without special treatment. But it must be borne in mind that a decrease in the severity of signs of frontal sinusitis may not lead to an absolute cure. Usually the disease becomes chronic.
Long-term use of vasoconstrictor drops
If the frontal sinus hurts, then the cause may be prolonged use of vasoconstrictors. With them the appearance is likely:
- swelling
- hyperemia of the nasopharynx;
- the accumulation of viscous secretions in large quantities;
- pain in the sinuses.
This condition leads to a noticeable decrease in the amount of oxygen that enters the sinuses. Internal pressure also rises, leading to headaches at the site of inflammation.
Other reasons
The frontal sinus also hurts due to other reasons. The form and severity of the disease depends on them. Another pain appears when:
- constant stresses that lower the protective effect of the body;
- severe hypothermia of the body, limbs;
- injuries to the nose or head in the place of the sinuses;
- allergies - asthma, rhinitis;
- the presence of a foreign body;
- nasal polyps.
Foreign parts (beads, designer items) in the nose lead to frontal sinusitis in children. After eliminating the causes of pain, they disappear completely.
Symptoms
If the frontal sinus hurts, you need to pay attention to additional symptoms. They are local and general. Of the local signs, the presence of:
- throbbing, constricting pain in the frontal area and temples;
- feeling of heaviness in the head;
- intensification of pain when tilting the head;
- swelling and hyperemia in the sinuses;
- purulent rhinitis;
- full or partial nasal congestion.
If a person has a curved nasal septum, then this can serve as an aggravation of the condition. Common signs include:
- a slight increase in temperature;
- fatigue;
- joint pain
- drowsiness.
Some patients complain that the nose is breathing, but the frontal sinus hurts. Other signs may also appear. In any case, it is necessary to treat the ailment, because only then will the condition improve noticeably.
Diagnostics
If the right frontal sinus or left sore, you must consult a doctor for a diagnosis. If there is a suspicion of frontal sinusitis, then the following diagnostic measures are carried out:
- Visual inspection An experienced doctor can then determine the presence of frontal sinusitis. Usually, with this disease, face swelling, redness of the skin appears.
- Percussion. Palpation and tapping of the sinus site are considered informative diagnostic methods. The patient complains not of pain when touching and tapping.
- Other diagnostic methods. Before prescribing treatment, the doctor performs additional diagnostic measures to assess the level of inflammation and the exact location of the lesion.
The most informative methods include the implementation of:
- frontal radiography of the sinuses;
- Bakseeding;
- rhinoscopy - examination;
- magnetic resonance computed tomography.
If the frontal sinuses hurt, what should I do? During therapy, drug and surgical methods of treatment are used. Particular attention should be paid to traditional medicine, which with traditional treatment will eliminate pain in the frontal sinuses. But traditional medicine can be used only after consulting a doctor.
Medicines
When the frontal sinus hurts, how to treat? Medications may be used:
- Antibacterial medicines selected on the basis of the results of bacterial culture: Augmentin, Sumamed, Azithromycin.
- Means for reducing the production of mucus in the nose: Nazol, Evkazolin, Sinupret. Vasoconstrictor medications should be used according to the instructions. The duration of treatment is usually not more than 5-7 days.
- Drugs that strengthen the walls of blood vessels: Ascorutin, vitamin C.
- Physiotherapy (if there is no high body temperature) to perform sinus heating, liquefaction, and secretion removal.
- Sinus catheter “JAMIC” to clean the sinuses and rinse with anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Antipyretic drugs: Paracetamol, Ibuprofen.
- Antihistamines: Suprastin, Loratadin, Zodak.
When the frontal sinus pains, and there are no snot, medication should be prescribed by a doctor based on the patient's condition. Before using any drug, you should read the instructions.
Surgical intervention
If the frontal sinuses hurt, what to do in difficult cases? As prescribed by the doctor, surgical methods can be prescribed:
- Trepanopuncture. The method in the form of punctures is used in complex cases of ailment, when the viscous secretion cannot be separated from the sinus cavity itself, and the usual treatment does not help (headache and fever remain for more than 3 days). Typically, a puncture is performed in a hospital using local anesthesia. The patient needs to observe bed rest until recovery. Trepanopuncture is an effective method for eliminating pus and washing the frontal sinuses.
- Endoscopic endonasal intervention. This method of surgical treatment is used when acute rhinitis does not disappear for more than 3-4 weeks, as well as pain and congestion of the frontal sinuses. In this case, the treatment will expand the natural anastomosis of the fronto-nasal canal.
Antibiotics
Severe inflammation from infection leads to the appearance of a large amount of pus. Only strong broad-spectrum antibiotics can eliminate it. Only before such treatment is it preferable to make a test for the susceptibility of the infection to the action of medicines. This will determine the group of bacteria that caused the inflammation, as well as choose an effective antibiotic.
To complete the test, you need more time, 3-7 days. Often without analysis, antibiotics of wide action are used, which can act simultaneously on several types of bacteria. Such drugs are powerful drugs, so they can eliminate unpleasant symptoms in a short time.
ethnoscience
If the frontal sinuses hurt with a runny nose, folk remedies are effective. Helps rinse the nose. This procedure dilutes the viscous secret, reduces the discomfort associated with difficulty breathing and lack of oxygen. For washing, use:
- A solution of sea salt. This product has substances that have a disinfecting and analgesic effect. Salt reduces edema, softens purulent crusts.
- Non-carbonated alkaline mineral water (Borjomi). This product includes soda, which has a softening property and reduces irritation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. Alkaline solution reduces the amount of viscous secretion, improves nose breathing.
- Decoctions of herbs, for example, chamomile, sage. These solutions relieve inflammation of the mucosa, help improve the discharge of viscous secretions from the frontal sinuses. One tablespoon of the raw material is poured into a glass of water. After bringing to a boil, the product should be infused, and then it can be used for washing.
Perform the procedure with warm (36-37 degrees) freshly prepared solutions. Then the treatment will be effective and safe. Often patients complain that frontal sinuses hurt without a runny nose. In this case, the doctor can also choose the most effective method of treatment. Before using traditional medicine, you should consult your doctor.
Effects
If the treatment is incorrect, then serious complications are likely. Inflammation of the frontal sinuses is considered a dangerous phenomenon, since the focus of infection is from vital organs. And since the bones of the facial part of the skull are porous and include many sinuses and cavities, ingestion of pus in them leads to negative consequences and the spread of infection to the ears, eyes, and oral cavity.
The most dangerous complication of frontitis is the appearance of meningitis, inflammation of the meninges. Its development is fast and can cause disability and death. When the infection enters the bloodstream, another deadly threat appears - sepsis. If the frontal sinusitis cannot be cured in a timely manner and completely, then it can become chronic.
In order to avoid unpleasant sensations due to inflammation of the frontal sinuses, you need to monitor your health and strengthen your immunity. To do this, you need to engage in sports, temper, prevent overheating, hypothermia, eat right, choosing more plant foods. Thanks to such measures, the body will be protected not only from pain in the frontal sinuses, but also from many other diseases.
Prevention
As you know, any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Therefore, to reduce the risk of frontal sinusitis should be prevented:
- Promptly treat a runny nose, prevent prolonged rhinitis. If this ailment does not disappear within 3-5 days, you need to contact a specialist to establish the correct diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
- Eat foods with vitamins: fresh vegetables, fruits. In autumn and winter, vitamin complexes (Hexavit, Vitrum) and medicines for the prevention of viral infections (Anaferon, Arbidol, Rimantadine) should be taken.
- Temper the body to strengthen immunity.
- Moisturize the nasal mucosa (Aquamaris, Salin), protecting it from drying out and reducing the risk of infection.
An important preventive measure is compliance with personal hygiene. It consists in regular washing of the nose. Timely to identify the disease allow medical examinations. When a headache occurs, when rhinitis and inflammation of the frontal sinuses are observed, immediate treatment is necessary, since this is dangerous due to serious complications.