Etmoiditis is considered one of the private varieties of sinusitis. It is an inflammation of the mucous membrane that covers the cells of the ethmoid bone. This bone is the barrier that separates the nasal passages from the cranial cavity. Despite the fact that this disease is not as common as sinusitis familiar to everyone, it is much more dangerous, therefore it is important to know what ethmoiditis is. Symptoms and consequences of this pathology are described in the article.
Causes of the disease
Speaking about such a pathology as ethmoiditis, in no case should we forget about what factors can cause its development. Often the cause of the disease is those diseases that reduce the overall level of immunity in the body and the protective mechanisms of the nasal mucosa. This is what enables bacteria and viruses to develop freely under convenient conditions.
The main causes of the disease can be called the following:
- Colds, runny nose, and other infections.
- Sinusitis (regardless of etiology).
- Acquired and congenital malformations of the nose and nasopharynx.
- A variety of chronic diseases that develop as rhinitis.
- Reduced immune status.
- Injuries to the facial bones, nose.
Very often you can observe how ethmoiditis develops (symptoms and treatment will be discussed later), against the background of such ailments: scarlet fever or flu. Often, it occurs as a complication against a frontal sinusitis or sinusitis.
Polypous ethmoiditis occurs when certain growths are present in the nasal cavity that interfere with the normal outflow of mucus from the cells of the ethmoid bone, creating favorable conditions for the growth and development of pathogens. In some situations, the opposite is possible. Ethmoiditis can cause the growth of polyps in the nasal cavity. In this case, the disease takes a chronic course and requires mandatory surgical intervention. That is why with such an ailment as ethmoiditis, it is extremely important to know the symptoms. This will allow you to not start the disease and begin treatment in the early stages.
Varieties of ethmoiditis
The most commonly used classification is based on the characteristics of the course of the disease. Thus, acute and chronic ethmoiditis are distinguished, which, despite a large number of differences, have common properties. So, both diseases lead to the following:
- Decreased performance.
- Fatigue.
- Memory problems.
- The development of depression.
Like any other pathology, ethmoiditis greatly reduces the quality of life of the patient, which is why you do not need to wait until the disease goes away on its own. If you notice similar symptoms of ethmoiditis, immediately seek help from a specialist. The doctor will be able to prescribe treatment and will give you the opportunity to avoid complications that are serious enough with this pathology, and in advanced cases can lead to death.
Acute course
Acute ethmoiditis develops much more unpleasantly than chronic. Nevertheless, it is much easier to treat it. This is due to the fact that the disease proceeds with characteristic manifestations that make it possible to timely recognize it and quickly begin treatment.
Signs of inflammation of the cells of the ethmoid bone in the acute stage are quite pronounced. The patient may indicate the following symptoms:
- Pain in the nose, corners of the eyes, as well as the forehead.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Decrease in smell, up to the development of anosmia (complete lack of ability to perceive odors).
- Increase in body temperature to 38 ° C.
In addition to the above symptoms, attention should be paid to a severe runny nose, moreover, the separated substance has features. At the onset of the disease, it is serous, without pus. As the pathology develops, the discharge becomes purulent, the mucus becomes more dense, greenish or yellowish in color with an unpleasant odor.
In the event that ethmoiditis first appears, the symptoms may be more pronounced. It will be much easier to cure the disease. Repeated cases are more severe. They can quickly become chronic.
Chronic ethmoiditis
Most experts are confident that the development of the chronic form of the disease should be avoided in all possible ways. There are several reasons for this. And the main thing is that the disease almost always gives many complications.
The chronic form develops if during acute ethmoiditis the correct treatment was not prescribed, therefore, the patient’s immunity could not cope with the pathogen independently. In this case, the ailment will appear from time to time in a person, causing him many problems. In general, the exacerbation of this type of ethmoiditis proceeds in almost the same way as the acute form. During remission, patients may have the following symptoms:
- Unpleasant sensations in the nose.
- Frequent headaches.
- Purulent nasal discharge with an unpleasant odor.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Violation of olfactory function.
The main danger of this form of the disease is that a person can think for a very long time that he suffers from an ordinary cold. But from such reasoning, ethmoiditis (the symptoms were discussed above) does not pass. The course of the disease is complicated, the risk of complications increases.
Complications
Unlike the common cold, with which, no doubt, every person has met, ethmoiditis requires immediate initiation of drug therapy for several reasons. Firstly, this disease can quickly become chronic, which is extremely difficult to treat. Secondly, an ailment can lead to complications that are life threatening enough.
The main complications:
- Destruction of the trellis maze.
- The transition of the inflammatory process to the visual organ.
- The transition of the process into the cranial cavity, which can lead to the development of such a serious disease as meningitis.
- Brain abscess.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of this disease is based on the correct collection of anamnesis, as well as on the exact study of the clinical manifestations of pathology. In addition, it is advisable to conduct an X-ray examination, which will allow you to study the state of the ethmoid bone and the cranial cavity. In the picture, you can detect darkening of the cells of the ethmoid bone and adjacent sinuses.
It must be borne in mind that the disease manifests itself in the autumn-winter period. It can often be regarded as a common acute respiratory illness, and orbital complications as signs of adenovirus infection. That is why with a disease such as ethmoiditis, symptoms and treatment should be analyzed and prescribed by a specialist. This will allow you to quickly conduct differential diagnosis and start appropriate therapy.
Physical examination reveals puffiness, as well as infiltration of the inner corner of the eye (this process can be extended to the eyelids). On palpation of the nose root, the patient often complains of moderate soreness. In addition, he may feel pain while examining the inner orbit.
A general blood test is uninformative, it gives a characteristic picture only in the presence of appropriate complications. In other cases, it reveals the presence of an inflammatory process in the body.
Anterior rhinoscopy will make it possible to see edema and hyperemia of the nasal mucosa, narrowing of the general nasal passage, and also closing of the middle. You can also detect the presence of purulent exudate.
Treatment
In most cases, only conservative therapy is sufficient. In the early days of the development of the disease, it is necessary to allow the discharge to flow freely from the nasal cavity. For this purpose, vasoconstrictor drugs are prescribed to the patient. In addition, it is advisable to prescribe pain medication and antibiotics.
A few days after the start of therapy, you can proceed to physiotherapeutic procedures. Surgical treatment is used only in emergency situations, when the patient is in an extremely serious condition. Treatment of ethmoiditis in children is practically no different from usual (except that it is necessary to choose the right dosage of drugs, which, without a doubt, a specialist will do well).
Home therapy
With a disease such as ethmoiditis, it is practically impossible to produce treatment at home, however, using folk remedies, you can increase immunity, which will be an excellent prevention of any sinusitis.
In addition, it is recommended to instill menthol, eucalyptus or camphor oil in the nose. The most important thing is that the drops fall into the nasal passage, and not into the throat. Otherwise, the therapy will be completely useless.
With a disease such as ethmoiditis, treatment at home can be supplemented by inhalation. In no case should you do warming up. This can be harmful. The most important thing is to immediately contact a specialist if the condition worsens. This will make it possible to avoid unpleasant complications.
Forecast
In the absence of complications, the prognosis is almost always favorable, but the main problem is that very often with the neglect of the process, a disease such as meningitis can develop (often leads to death). That is why in no case should you run such a seemingly simple disease as ethmoiditis. It is imperative that, when the first symptoms appear, consult a specialist who can not only make the correct diagnosis, but also prescribe appropriate therapy, which is the main factor affecting the prevention of chronicity of the process.