Sinusitis is an inflammatory disease of the maxillary sinus. It can develop at any age. Both adults and children are susceptible to pathologies, regardless of gender, general state of health, etc. Of course, people who adhere to a healthy lifestyle and have a high level of immunity are less susceptible to such inflammatory diseases. However, there is no guarantee that this misfortune will pass them. How to understand that you have sinusitis? The article lists the main symptoms of the disease, as well as presents the most effective ways of treatment.
The clinical picture of the disease
Otorhinolaryngologists consider bacteria or viruses that colonize and subsequently multiply in the maxillary sinuses to be the main cause of sinusitis. Most often, people fall ill in the fall, when immunity is weakened, and anyone can become infected with a pathogenic virus - in transport, at work, at home.
The maxillary sinuses are located in the thickness of the bones of the upper jaw, closer to the nasal passage, and have a volume of about 30 cm³. They secrete a secret that moisturizes the nasal passages, protecting them from dust, allergens and pollution. This secret is a pretty "tempting" habitat for many viruses and bacteria. If their number exceeds a certain level, a person begins to suffer from sinusitis symptoms. It doesn’t matter whether a child or an adult - the mechanism for the development of the disease is always the same. How to understand if there is sinusitis? An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a doctor. However, if you know some of the nuances of diagnosis, you can guess the presence of pathology yourself.
How to understand that you have sinusitis? Symptoms of the disease are very variable and variable. Therefore, a person without a medical education should not be independently diagnosed, although it will not be superfluous to have an idea of the symptoms. The article lists the main signs by which we can conclude the presence of pathology.
Developmental stages
Medicine distinguishes four stages of the development of the disease:
- The first is subacute. Symptoms are characteristic of ordinary rhinitis. How to understand that you have sinusitis, and not just a runny nose? It is necessary to listen to your feelings: even at the initial stage with sinusitis, slight swelling is characteristic and at the same time, periods, a slight pain is observed. The action of drops with a vasoconstrictor effect at this stage is very short-term. A person suffers from nasal discharge, severe congestion and swelling and does not understand why the usual drops ceased to act properly.
- In the acute stage of the development of sinusitis, a headache appears. Nasal congestion is almost impossible to remove with the usual means - drops, inhalations. At this stage, it is necessary to take special tablets, it is necessary to remove the inflammation by any possible means.
- The chronic stage appears, if not cure acute. Headache and swelling of the sinuses are reduced, but do not go away completely. Nasal discharge may pass completely or be present only occasionally. A person becomes inert, immunity decreases, and working capacity drops. How to understand that you have sinusitis in the chronic stage of the course? Main criteria: headache, nasal bridge pain, feeling of swelling, permanent nasal congestion.
- The fulminant form is characterized by the presence of sepsis. Purulent process can affect the function of hearing, vision. This is the most dangerous stage in which the possibility of death occurs.
Causes of occurrence
The most common causes of chronic sinusitis:
- untreated completely and in time acute sinusitis;
- violations of the anatomy of the nasopharynx since childhood;
- curvature of the nasal septum can also lead to the development of a chronic form of sinusitis;
- enlarged nasal concha;
- prolonged stay in a room with excessively dry air;
- transferred flu (sinusitis can develop as a complication);
- low immunity;
- autoimmune diseases - an additional factor that can contribute to the development of a chronic form of the disease;
- injuries received in the area of the nasal septum can also provoke a violation of the separation of the fluid and, as a result, inflammation;
- polyps and adenoids;
- mycotic lesion of the nasopharynx;
- radiation sickness, various tumors, tuberculosis can also be accompanied by sinusitis at various stages of the course.
How to understand that you have sinusitis?
This question excites many people who often suffer from a runny nose. If in parallel with nasal discharge there is a feeling of swelling, headache and discomfort in the nose, it is possible that a person has sinusitis. To verify the reliability of this assumption, you should visit a general practitioner or an otorhinolaryngologist.
Features of the disease in children
How to understand that a child has sinusitis? Children are usually reluctant to share symptoms: parts are afraid that parents will take some frightening procedures. Therefore, to independently diagnose a child with a sinusitis is quite problematic. How to understand if a child has sinusitis, how not to confuse the symptoms with sinusitis or rhinitis? We'll have to take the child to the ENT specialist and undergo a professional examination. After that, we can speak with accuracy about the presence or absence of sinusitis in a child.
Which doctor should i contact for diagnosis
Examination of the nasopharynx can be done by a regular therapist or pediatrician. However, sinusitis belongs to complex diseases, so if you suspect it, it is better to immediately go to the profile doctor - otorhinolaryngologist.
Almost all patients are concerned about the question of how to understand that sinusitis has begun. First of all, you need to pay attention to puffiness - is it felt or not. You should also try to note whether pain is present in the nose. If there are such symptoms, then sinusitis can be diagnosed. How to understand from the picture, is there an inflammatory disease of the maxillary sinus? Doing it yourself is highly discouraged; the doctor should examine the picture. On the x-ray, accumulations of mucus and clogged passages are usually noticeable - these are the criteria for the diagnosis of sinusitis. How to understand in the picture that the cause of the disease is sinusitis, and not rhinitis? There are many subtleties of diagnosis, and for decryption it is better to use the help of a professional physician.
Therapies: what to choose?
Treatment of sinusitis is to ensure the outflow of the contents of the sinuses and sanitation of the nasal cavity in order to destroy the causative agents of infection. It is necessary to remove swelling and inflammation, to prevent the spread of pathogenic microorganisms.
There are several ways to effectively treat a disease:
- taking pills;
- instillation of various suspensions;
- reception of dietary supplements.
How to understand that sinusitis passes in an adult? If the patient feels that the swelling of the mucosa subsides, if the pains in the nose and forehead pass, then the medicine definitely works.
Nasal drops
List of the most effective nasal drops for chronic sinusitis:
- "Polydex" - can be used both as part of complex therapy, and as an independent tool. The main active ingredient is neomycin. This is an antibiotic, due to the action of which the drops are effective for sinusitis.
- "Isofra" - the drug is effective in the complex treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract, including sinusitis. It can be used for both children and adults.
- "Rinofluimucil" is actively prescribed by otorhinolaryngologists, not only for sinusitis, but also for rhinopharyngitis, vasomotor rhinitis, sinusitis.
- "Sinuforte" refers to drops of local action for instant relief of symptoms of the disease. It can be used both for rhinitis and sinusitis, sinusitis and other diagnoses.
Tablet formulations
An ENT specialist may prescribe a variety of drugs. These are antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory, and decongestant drugs.
Among the antibiotic preparations for sinusitis, the following are usually prescribed:
- "Azithromycin";
- "Amoxicillin;
- Flemoxin.
Each of these medicines has an impressive list of contraindications, side effects may develop. It is impossible to choose an antibiotic for yourself, you should definitely consult a doctor before you start taking it.
Of the anti-inflammatory drugs, Sinupret can be noted - this is a modern medicine with a minimum of side effects and contraindications. It allows you to relieve swelling, get rid of pain and dryness in the nasopharynx.
Often, in addition to antibiotics and Sinupret, drugs with a liquefying effect are also prescribed. They allow you to achieve easy breathing, positively affect the condition of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. Liquefying drugs are also called mucolytic. We can distinguish the following effective medicines from this group for sinusitis:
Does it make sense to take dietary supplements for sinusitis
It is advisable to take dietary supplements, as well as vitamin and mineral complexes only to increase immunity. This class of drugs does not affect the course of sinusitis directly. However, if a person has a deficiency of minerals and vitamins, then there can be no talk of a good body resistance to the effects of viruses and bacteria.
To increase immunity (both local and general), one of the following vitamin-mineral complexes should be drunk with a course:
- "Multi-tabs Immuno Plus";
- Gerimax Energy;
- "Immunal";
- "Alphabet".
Patient reviews on the most effective treatment
Reviews of adult patients who have had sinusitis in the chronic stage indicate that the most effective treatment is a combination of measures (taking pills, using drops and at the same time giving up bad habits, taking vitamins to increase immunity). Physiotherapy is also good: people emphasize that only five to six sessions significantly alleviate the condition and smooth out the symptoms of sinusitis. You can do warming with salt or inhalation at home.
Reviews of parents of babies who have had sinusitis show that getting rid of the disease is completely difficult. Sinusitis often passes from acute to chronic stage. As a result, concomitant diseases develop over time - adenoiditis, frontal sinusitis, and so on. For children, a complex of measures for the treatment of sinusitis should also be used, and not just one drug or method.