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During the cold weather months we often experience runny noses, nasal congestion and stuffiness, which can be associated with the common cold. Although we do often associate colds with the winter season, it's very common to suffer from sinus or nasal discomfort all year round. Is it a cold, allergies, or sinusitis? Get to the bottom of your symptoms. A sinus infection, or sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. A sinus infection can cause headaches or pressure in the eyes, nose, cheek area, or on one side of the head. A person with a sinus infection may also have a cough, a fever, bad breath, and nasal congestion with thick nasal secretions. Sinusitis is categorized as acute, or chronic. What is Sinusitis: Acute vs. Chronic Acute bacterial sinusitis is an infection of the sinus cavities that is caused by bacteria and is usually preceded by a cold, allergy attack, or irritation by environmental pollutants. Unlike a cold, however, bacterial sinusitis requires a physician's diagnosis and treatment with an antibiotic to cure the infection and prevent future complications. Mucus normally collects in the sinuses and drains into the nasal passages, but when you have a cold or an allergy attack; your sinuses become inflamed and are unable to drain. Without drainage, this can lead to congestion and infection. Your ENT will diagnose acute sinusitis if you have up to 4 weeks of purulent nasal drainage accompanied by nasal obstruction, facial pain-pressure-fullness, or both. The sinus infection is likely bacterial if it persists for 10 days or longer, or if the symptoms worsen after an initial improvement. Acute sinusitis becomes chronic when you have frequent sinusitis, or the infection lasts more than three months. Symptoms of chronic sinusitis may be less severe than those of acute, but untreated chronic sinusitis can cause damage to the sinuses and cheekbones that sometimes can require surgery to repair. Antibiotic therapy for bacterial sinusitis may be an appropriate treatment for your sinusitis. If your ENT thinks that you have chronic sinusitis, intensive antibiotic therapy may be prescribed and sometimes surgery may be necessary to remove physical obstructions that may contribute to sinusitis. Special Consideration for Aging Patients For the most part, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment are the same for the elderly as other adult age groups, but there are special considerations for older Americans. As we age, the physiology and function of the nose changes. The nose lengthens, and the nasal tip begins to droop due to weakening of the supporting cartilage. As a result, this causes a restriction of nasal airflow, which triggers the complaint of nasal obstruction. Geriatric sinusitis complaints are:
• Constant need to clear the throat
• A sense of nasal obstruction
• Nasal crusting
• Vague facial pressure
• Decreased sense of smell and taste Patients with chronic sinusitis will have a long history of thick drainage that is often foul smelling and tasting, which is associated with nasal obstruction, headaches, and facial pressure. Additionally, these patients will usually have pus drainage and nasal redness. In contrast, the geriatric sinusitis patient usually has a dry, irritated nose. The diagnosis of chronic sinusitis can be confirmed with a CT scan of the sinuses.
Because symptoms of sinusitis can sometimes mimic those of colds and allergies, you may not realize you need to see a doctor. If you suspect you have sinusitis, review the signs and symptoms and consult your ENT in Proctorville for further diagnosis.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading ENT in Proctorville, Holzer Clinic – Liberty Circle, which is maintained by Drs. Ross Germani and R. Arturo Roa, board certified Proctorville, OH and Huntington otolaryngologists. Working alongside Drs. Germani and Roa are two physician assistants, Alicia Johnson and Neal Collins, dedicated to providing the best quality healthcare in a responsive and caring environment.
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