Sinusitis is an inflammation of the maxillary sinuses. It can occur due to various infections (viral, fungal, bacterial).
Sinusitis is also called maxillary sinusitis.
Causes of occurrence
A large role in the occurrence of sinusitis is played by the immune system, which can decrease with such factors:
• in the presence of diseases of internal organs;
• in case of allergic reactions;
• with improper treatment of rhinitis and colds.
In addition, this disease can occur due to disorders in the human body, each of which is dangerous in its own way. These include:
• injuries of the maxillary sinuses;
• the presence of bacteria in the nasopharynx;
• colds in a neglected form;
• complications after acute respiratory viral infections;
• hypothermia;
• failure of the secretion organs;
• trauma to the nasal septum;
• allergy;
• tumors, fungi, tuberculosis.
Sinusitis can also provoke:
• stay in the drafts;
• prolonged stay in a room where it is hot, but the air is dry;
• improper oral hygiene;
• being in a place where it is possible to get toxins into the respiratory system.
Even if at first glance the symptoms of sinusitis do not seem dangerous, they still do not need to be ignored, but treated until complete recovery.
What is dangerous sinusitis?
With the disease, the mucous membrane is affected, which provokes a violation of air circulation. When pus stagnation begins to appear, it can lead to swelling. For bacteria, the very moment of activity begins at this time. The maxillary cavity is closely connected with other cavities located in the nasal region. For this reason, even minor inflammatory processes with blood and lymph can be transferred to other organs.
Due to the fact that the nose has many nerve endings, as well as blood and lymph vessels, when an infectious focus forms in it, this can affect the condition of the whole organism.
Complications
If proper treatment is not applied, then various complications will follow. Sinusitis after some time can go into a chronic form, which is an infectious source in a dormant state.
With this complication, not only infections can spread throughout the body, but also there may be sensitivity to various allergic sources. In most cases, this manifests itself in the form of edema, which in turn carries a huge danger, in some cases for life. The severity of complications depends on how the disease progresses and what measures for treatment are taken. But you can not expect that sinusitis will pass on its own. Although complications after illness due to the immune system do not occur so often. But in case of improper treatment or weakened immunity, it is difficult to predict how the fight against the disease will end.
Complications can be caused by a viral infection, which not only has a weakening effect on the entire body, but can also disrupt the functioning of vital organs. When it enters the bloodstream, it spreads even a little faster.
Other complications
Sinusitis chronic also does not pass often without a trace. It can cause the following complications:
• the work of the organs of vision is disrupted;
• failure of the otolaryngology organs;
• sepsis;
• periostitis;
• meningitis.
When a person has sinusitis, complications in the ears arise because the maxillary cavity and the organ of hearing itself are close to each other. As a result, when complications of the disease begin, the middle ear suffers, in which the inflammatory process occurs - otitis media. The auditory tube, Eustachiitis, can also become inflamed.
These two ear diseases occur in an infectious way, and if the source itself is not treated, sinusitis, then after some time either hearing loss or complete deafness can occur. In addition, sinusitis complications are not only such. The patient may experience a constant ear noise. Also during air travel, when congestion of the organs of hearing occurs, pain occurs.
Eye complications
If a person has sinusitis, eye complications are most common. In recent years, bacteria have been modified due to antibiotic exposure, and viral infections are spreading more and more. In general, the inflammatory process occurs in the orbit. This type in adults in most cases occurs when chronic sinusitis occurs. For children, an acute disease is sufficient. In this case, the infection enters the organs of vision through the blood composition, but in some cases by the contact method. When the tissues of the orbit are affected, this can be seen by the following signs:
• eyelids and cheeks swell;
• when touched, pain occurs.
Inflammation can be accompanied both with suppuration, and without it.
When there is no suppuration, the following symptoms are characteristic:
• eyes become less mobile;
• the conjunctiva begins to swell;
• in some cases, there is a shift in the organs of vision either forward or to the side;
• the optic nerve becomes inflamed - neuritis;
• visual acuity is significantly impaired;
• Disorders in color discrimination appear.
When purulent complications sinusitis provokes, they can be expressed in:
• eyelid abscess;
• purulent fusion of the fiber of the orbit or retrobulbar abscess;
• phlegmon of the orbit of the eye.
In this case, everyone has the following symptoms:
• increased body temperature;
• chills;
• a sharp jump in the big side of the ESR level;
• vomiting;
• signs of intoxication.
Complications of the brain
Of the consequences that sinusitis causes , complications in the brain are considered more dangerous for the patient. The most common is meningitis. This disease occurs during inflammatory processes in the soft membranes of the spinal cord and brain. With sinusitis, it develops due to inflammation of a purulent type in the sinuses.
Meningitis can occur in two ways:
- contact (through bone tissue);
- hematogenous (through blood);
Symptoms of this disease:
• sudden changes in body temperature, ranging from 36 to 40;
• unbearable headache, which can provoke nausea and vomiting;
• impaired consciousness, there may even be hallucinations;
• close proximity to the optic nerve may impair the functioning of the organs of vision.
Meningitis progresses very quickly. If you do not notice its presence on time, then in a day the patient will be in serious condition. At the first signs of this disease, there is no time to wait for the results of the analysis. The patient is immediately hospitalized and treatment begins with antibiotics, corticosteroids, as well as internal infusions, which occur only in stationary conditions.
With untimely access to medical care, progressive meningitis can result in death. For this reason, the sooner treatment begins, the safer it is for the patient's life.
At the initial stage of the course of treatment, antibiotics are prescribed to eliminate the source of inflammation, but the disease itself is difficult to cure, since the brain has a natural barrier that protects against toxic substances and pharmaceuticals.
The duration of treatment for meningitis is generally ten days. At this time, therapy is carried out with the help of injections and spinal punctures. Thanks to these manipulations, the pressure inside decreases, and the bacteria are destroyed.
Sinusitis Symptoms, treatment at home
If all the signs indicate sinusitis, treatment can be carried out only after first consulting with the doctor. It is undesirable to take any measures on your own. So you can harm your health.
With the approval of a doctor, you can use the following methods:
• washing;
• the use of decoctions of medicinal plants;
• the use of drops prepared by hand;
• compresses;
• warming up.
When the first complications of sinusitis in adults begin, the symptoms are as follows:
• increased body temperature;
• the occurrence of pain in the teeth and when the head is tilted;
• nasal discharge with an admixture of pus;
• decreased sense of smell.
When ignoring these signs, the following is observed:
• frequent feeling of weakness, as well as severe fatigue;
• constant occurrence of headaches;
• regular runny nose;
• lack of nasal breathing, even when using vasoconstrictor drugs;
• mucous or purulent discharge from the nose that has an unpleasant odor.
Mukocele
If complications have already occurred , sinusitis does not completely pass after undergoing therapy. For adult patients, in about twenty cases out of a hundred, mucocele occurs. It is characterized by the formation of an epithelial cyst, which occurs due to the accumulated purulent fluid in the maxillary cavities.
With the progression of this complication, bone erosion occurs. In addition, purulent fluid may collect in the cranial cavity. In some cases, a cerebral infarction may occur.
Tips
Even if a person is cured, then pains after sinusitis periodically appear, especially the head, in the temples. In some cases, they can occur as often as during the progression of the disease. Get rid of them with the help of drugs or traditional medicine, but only after the approval of the attending physician. If you appoint an independent treatment, it can even lead to disability.
In many cases, especially after the puncture therapy was carried out, a runny nose after sinusitis is manifested. When this symptom lasts about three days and gradually disappears, then you should not particularly worry. But if on the contrary, then a visit to a specialist should not be postponed. He must prescribe the necessary drugs and manipulations, which it is desirable to adhere to. Otherwise, the disease will resume with renewed vigor.
No matter what form sinusitis may be, treatment prescribed independently, in no case should be undertaken. Since this can only aggravate the situation.
Conclusion
Now you know how sinusitis is manifested. Symptoms, home treatment - these are two topics that we examined. We also spoke in detail about the complications that arise due to improper or untimely treatment. In order not to get sick, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle. At the same time, move a lot, monitor the diet and try to look as positive as possible at everything around.