Almost every person from time to time faces a cold or respiratory illness. Such diseases are not accepted to be taken seriously, but in the absence of treatment or a decrease in immune activity, they can lead to the development of frontal sinusitis. Symptoms of this pathology can be different, but diagnosing it on time is very important.
Of course, many people are interested in more information. Symptoms, causes, prevention and treatment of frontal sinusitis are all important information that you should definitely study. So why does the disease develop and what complications does it involve?
Frontite - what is it?
Frontitis is a disease that is accompanied by the development of an inflammatory process in the frontal sinuses. This ailment is often characterized by a severe course and is difficult to treat, which is associated with some anatomical features. The frontal sinuses are connected to the nasal passages not with an opening, but with a very narrow frontal-nasal canal, which sometimes prevents the outflow of fluid - fluid, mucus and pus accumulate in the sinus cavity, which only aggravates the situation.
Often diagnosed with frontitis in children (symptoms and treatment will be described below). The fact is that the child's sinuses are just being formed, which makes his body more prone to various kinds of inflammatory diseases.
Causes of the disease
Many people want to know everything about the causes, symptoms and signs of frontal sinusitis. To begin with, of course, it is worthwhile to understand the question of why the inflammatory process begins.
- The disease is associated with pathogenic microorganisms entering the frontal sinuses. The role of the pathogen can play both viruses, bacteria and fungi. They can enter the nasal cavity from the external environment. But sometimes activation of opportunistic microorganisms is observed.
- Risk factors include a decrease in immunity, as this makes the body susceptible to various kinds of infections.
- According to statistics, the likelihood of developing frontal sinusitis increases if the patient has suffered an injury in the projection of the frontal bone. Risk factors include curvature of the nasal septum.
- Frontitis may be associated with an allergic reaction.
- The risk of developing an inflammatory process increases with vasomotor rhinitis.
It is worth noting that during the diagnosis it is extremely important to determine the cause of the development of inflammation, as well as the nature of the pathogen, since the treatment will largely depend on this.
Frontitis: types and forms of pathology
A similar disease can occur in different ways. Depending on the nature of the inflammatory process, there are:
- acute frontitis, which is accompanied by severe inflammation, fever and the appearance of other symptoms of intoxication;
- chronic, the development of which, as a rule, is associated with the latent course of the disease or improper therapy of acute inflammation (the pathological process in this case progresses sluggishly, but constantly).
It is necessary to pay attention to the localization of the inflammatory process.
- Unilateral frontal sinusitis is characterized by a lesion of one frontal sinus (respectively, it can be either right- or left-sided).
- Bilateral frontal sinusitis is accompanied by inflammation of both sinuses at once.
If we consider the nature of the exudate secreted, then the following forms are distinguished:
- catarrhal frontal sinusitis (symptoms and treatment will be described later) is accompanied by the formation of liquid, mucous secretions;
- purulent form, which is characterized by the formation of thick purulent masses of yellowish or greenish color;
- serous inflammation, against the background of which there is the appearance of scanty transparent secretions with a high protein content.
Depending on the cause of the development of the inflammatory process, frontal sinusitis is divided into viral, fungal, bacterial, allergic and mixed forms.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
Symptoms of frontal sinusitis directly depend on the stage of development of the disease and its form.
- Acute inflammation usually begins with an increase in body temperature. A person becomes weak, tired. Chills, joint pain and muscle aches appear.
- The nasal passages are strongly blocked. And if in the daytime this violation can be dealt with, then at night the patient often wakes up from a lack of air.
- The characteristic signs of the disease include the appearance of severe pain in the forehead. Sometimes the pain spreads to the temples and eyes. Discomfort is most pronounced in the morning, which is associated with the accumulation of secretions in the sinuses per night. If you tilt your head down, then the pain and feeling of pressure intensifies.
- Runny nose appears. Allocations can be transparent, liquid and mucous, or thick, purulent, with a yellowish-greenish tint.
- Patients often suffer from increased sensitivity to light. Exposure to any stimulus, be it light, cold or wind, immediately causes increased secretion of tears.
- Symptoms include coughing. In most cases, it is accompanied by sputum production, but may be dry.
- The disease leads to a gradual loss of smell. The patient becomes less sensitive to certain aromas, and in the absence of treatment completely loses the ability to distinguish odors.
In chronic inflammation, the clinical picture looks different. During an exacerbation, the same symptoms appear as with acute frontitis. But then comes remission - a period of relative prosperity.
At this stage, patients often feel heaviness under the eyebrows. In the morning, thick greenish discharge appears from the nose, although the rest of the day there is no runny nose. Some patients complain of recurring headaches. There is a slow violation of olfactory function.
Complications on the background of frontal sinusitis
We have already considered the main causes, symptoms of frontal sinusitis. Having noticed the slightest violations, you should immediately consult a doctor. Lack of timely therapy is extremely dangerous.
- The transition of acute inflammation into a chronic form is possible. Symptoms in this case are less pronounced. Patients complain of constant fatigue and heaviness in the head. Gradually, the mucous membranes of the nose atrophy, as a result of which they cease to cope with their functions.
- The list of consequences includes conjunctivitis. The disease is accompanied by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eye, itching and burning, the formation of purulent discharge.
- The inflammatory process can spread to the shell of the brain, which leads to the development of meningitis with all its consequences.
- Hearing inflammation is also possible.
Diagnostic procedures
Only a doctor can diagnose a disease such as frontal sinusitis. Symptoms and causes of the disease are what the specialist needs to learn about first. That is why the patient is first interviewed, data collection for anamnesis. In the future, the patient is sent for additional tests.
- First of all, an endoscopic examination is performed. Using special equipment, the doctor examines the inner surface of the nasal cavities and finds out what exactly prevents the air circulation.
- Rhinoscopy allows the doctor to quickly examine the nasal mucous membranes, note the presence of redness, swelling, purulent discharge. This is a simple procedure that does not require special equipment.
- Mandatory is a smear from the nasal passages. The resulting samples are then used for bacteriological culture. So the doctor has the opportunity to accurately determine the pathogen and check its sensitivity to certain drugs.
- X-ray is also informative. In the obtained images, you can see the accumulation of fluid in the frontal sinus.
- Occasionally, sinuses are examined using an ultrasound scanner, although this procedure is less effective than an x-ray.
- The most accurate information can be obtained using a computer tomograph. After examining the images, the doctor will be able to accurately determine the presence of the inflammatory process, the location of the focus, the degree of spread of pathology, etc.
- Scintigraphy - a technique that allows you to check the patient for intracranial complications, involves the use of radioisotopes.
Using the above procedures, the doctor can determine the causes, symptoms and type of frontal sinusitis. Based on these data, a specialist will be able to draw up an effective treatment regimen.
Treatment of the disease with antibiotics
Do not ignore a disease such as frontal sinusitis. Symptoms and treatment in adults and children are related, because the choice of drugs depends on the presence of certain complications in the patient.
If during the diagnosis it was possible to confirm that the cause of the inflammatory process is the activity of pathogenic bacterial microflora, then antibiotics are prescribed to patients.
- The most effective are the means of the penicillin group. Used drugs such as Amoxiclav, Flemoxin, Augmentin.
- Cephalosporins of the third and fourth generation are also used, in particular, Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime, Aksetil.
- If for one reason or another treatment with cephalosporins or penicillins is impossible (or does not give the desired effect), the doctor prescribes the funds of the macrolide group, in particular, Macropen, Sumamed and Azithromycin.
Topical preparations
In order to eliminate the symptoms of frontal sinusitis and accelerate the healing process, not only antibiotics are used, but also other drugs.
- Often, vasoconstrictive drops for the nose are included in the treatment regimen, in particular, Otrivin, Afrin, Nazivin. These drugs help relieve swelling, facilitate nasal breathing, relieve congestion.
- Drops and nasal sprays "Protargol", "Pinosol" act as antiseptics, cleansing the mucous membranes of pathogenic microorganisms.
- Sometimes, a special Bioparox aerosol containing fusafungin is included in the treatment regimen. This tool has pronounced antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
- The introduction of tampons moistened in an antiseptic solution or ointment into the nasal passages is effective (Levomekol is considered effective).
Physiotherapeutic procedures
There are other therapies that help eliminate the symptoms of frontal sinusitis in children and adults. The inflammatory process, of course, can be removed with the help of drugs, but physiotherapy is necessary for a complete recovery of the body.
- UHF heating is considered effective. This procedure allows you to reduce puffiness and start the regeneration processes. The full course consists of ten procedures.
- Laser equipment is also used to treat frontitis. The action of photons activates metabolic processes and triggers tissue regeneration.
- If there is unilateral frontal sinusitis (in a mild form), then the doctor can prescribe a washing of the nasal sinuses with the help of special solutions.
When is surgery necessary?
Symptoms of chronic frontal sinusitis are sometimes not so obvious, but the consequences of the disease can be very dangerous. In severe cases, the doctor may recommend surgery.
- The procedure can be carried out using an endoscopic probe. The doctor opens the cavity of the frontal sinus, and then pumps out the pus. In the future, the sinuses are washed with an antiseptic solution. This technique is used only in the case of a chronic, constantly recurring form of the disease.
- Trepanopuncture is a rather complicated procedure, which involves making holes in the frontal bone. Thus, a path is created for the outflow of purulent contents. The fluid from the cavity is taken for a laboratory test - this helps the doctor choose the most effective drugs.
Traditional medicine recipes
Many people are looking for traditional medicine recipes that can help eliminate the symptoms of frontal sinusitis. And treatment at home is possible - there are many tools that you can prepare yourself.
- Experienced folk healers, as well as doctors, recommend regularly flushing the nose with saline. It can be prepared on its own or bought at a pharmacy (by the way, solutions made on the basis of sea salt are considered more effective).
- Steam treatments, which can be easily carried out at home, have a positive effect on the treatment process. In hot water you need to add a few drops of menthol or eucalyptus essential oil and breathe steam. By the way, oils can also be added to bathing water.
- You can use the aroma lamp, heating oil of eucalyptus, needles, menthol or tea tree in it. These substances relieve swelling, facilitate nasal breathing and have antiseptic properties.
- It is believed that it is possible to reduce swelling of the nasal sinuses and passages using bromelain. This substance is present in many dietary supplements, as well as in fresh pineapple.
- You can wash your nose with a decoction of chamomile. This plant has pronounced anti-inflammatory properties. Before each procedure, you need to prepare a fresh broth.
- Helps to cope with frontitis and boiled potatoes. Several potatoes need to be boiled in their uniforms, knead with a fork and breathed in with the formed hot steam (but carefully so as not to burn the mucous membrane of the nasal passages).
- Some healers recommend burying your nose with fresh Kalanchoe juice. First, freshly picked leaves of the plant must be refrigerated - here they ripen for three days. After that, you need to squeeze the juice out of them, dilute with warm boiled water. With the resulting product, the nose is instilled 2-3 times a day. It is worth noting that Kalanchoe juice causes a kind of allergic reaction - after instillation, a person begins to sneeze heavily. It is believed that such a homemade medicine helps to clear the passages and sinuses from the accumulation of purulent and mucous masses.
- It is useful to breathe in pairs of decoction of bay leaves.
Of course, such funds can not be used arbitrarily. For example, hot steam or warming the nose during acute inflammation can only aggravate the situation. That is why before you start using any home medicine, you need to consult a doctor.
Prevention of frontal sinusitis
In modern medical practice, cases of diseases such as sinusitis, sinusitis, and frontal sinusitis are often recorded. Symptoms of such pathologies are similar, and the list of possible complications is very impressive. Of course, it is much easier to prevent the development of the disease than then to worry about effective treatments. Doctors recommend following some simple rules.
- All infectious and inflammatory diseases should respond to treatment on time, even simple rhinitis. In no case should you refuse to help a specialist or ignore the symptoms that have appeared.
- It is important to eat right, maintain physical fitness at the proper level, take vitamin preparations, and temper the body. This helps to strengthen the immune system and, accordingly, reduce the risk of frontal sinusitis and other diseases.
- Try to avoid hypothermia, drafts. Always dress for the weather. In cold and windy weather, do not give up the appropriate headgear.
The appearance of symptoms of frontal sinusitis is a good reason to consult a doctor. In this case, do not self-medicate.