How to diagnose, treat and cure chronic sinusitis

Rhinosinusitis is an inflammation of the nose and sinuses, which may be due to an underlying infection or allergy. Broadly, there are two types of sinusitis, based on the duration of symptoms. The first is acute sinusitis, which lasts for less than three months, and chronic sinusitis, which usually lasts for more than that.

Although acute sinusitis is not much of a concern because it settles in roughly seven to 10 days with the help of medicines such as antibiotics, chronic sinusitis does require long-term medical treatment, and may also need surgical intervention.

The main symptoms of chronic sinusitis are a blocked nose and/or congestion, nasal discharge varying from runny and yellowish to greyish and thick, as well as facial pain and pressure. You might also suffer from a decreased sense of smell, although serious cases could cause a complete absence of smell. If you are suffering from one or more of these symptoms then you need to visit your ENT.

Although the diagnosis of sinusitis is clinical, certain tests such as a nasal endoscopy (a simple office-based examination offering a good view of the inside of the nose), or CT scan of the sinuses and few blood tests may also be done to establish the extent and severity of the condition.

In Brief: Sinusitis – your questions answered

What is chronic sinusitis?

Sinusitis is an inflammation of hollow spaces around the nose, called sinuses. Chronic sinusitis lasts for three months or more and is normally caused when sinusitis does not respond to medicines.

What causes chronic sinusitis?

Inflammation due to allergy or infection causes the sinus lining to swell. This stops the cilia (tiny brush like structures) from sweeping the mucus away. Bacteria or fungi then start to colonise the sinuses. Continuous inflammation causes multiple tiny growths or polyps to block the sinus passages and worsen the situation.

What are the symptoms of chronic sinusitis?

The main symptoms are nose block and/or congestion, nasal discharge varying from runny and yellowish to greyish and thick. Sinusitis may also be caused due to facial pain and pressure, a decreased sense of or in some cases, an absence of smell.

Who treats chronic sinusitis?

An otolaryngologist, commonly known as an ENT is the best person to treat your sinuses with medical and surgical interventions.

What are the treatment options?

Your ENT might do a nasal endoscopy (a simple office-based examination offering a good view of the inside of nose). A CT scan of the sinuses and few blood tests may also be done to establish the extent and severity of the disease. An initial trial of medicines is given which may include steroid nasal sprays, anti- allergic medications, saline nasal wash and culture specific antibiotics.

A treatment response is assessed at the end of six to eight weeks by endoscopy and prevailing symptoms - those who fail to respond are normally asked to plan for a surgery. The surgery for sinusitis is endoscopic and causes minimal discomfort in most cases. With modern medicines and surgical techniques, patients need not worry about the cosmetic aspect or complications, because they are in experienced hands.

If you are suffering from any of the symptoms mentioned above or are already diagnosed with chronic sinusitis, do not delay and schedule an appointment with your ENT at the earliest.