Good morning and TGIF! Welcome to another Dr Euan's ENT Blogpost!
Today's topic is on what options there are for treating sinusitis, more commonly known as sinus.
Sinusitis is very common in Singapore, so if you would like to know more about what you can do about it, please have a read!
Q: What is sinusitis?
Sinusitis is an inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses. Sinuses are hollow spaces within the bones between your eyes, behind your cheekbones, and in your forehead. They make mucus, which keeps the inside of your nose moist. That, in turn, helps protect against dust, allergens, and pollutants.
Healthy sinuses are filled with air. But when they become blocked and filled with fluid, germs can grow and cause an infection and nasal blockages.
A Diagram to show the different areas of the sinus
Some conditions that cause sinus blockages can include:
The common cold
Allergic rhinitis, which is swelling of the lining of the nose caused by allergens
Small growths in the lining of the nose called nasal polyps
A deviated septum, which is a shift in the nasal cavity
If you would like to know more about these ENT Conditions, you can read Dr Euan's advice in his blogposts about Allergies, Nasal Polyps, and Deviated Nasal Septum.
Q: What can cause Sinusitis?
Types of Sinusitis:
You may hear your doctor use these terms:
Acute sinusitis usually starts with cold-like symptoms such as a runny, stuffy nose and facial pain. It may start suddenly and last 2 to 4 weeks.
Subacute sinusitis usually lasts 4 to 12 weeks.
Chronic sinusitis symptoms last 12 weeks or longer.
Recurrent sinusitis happens several times a year.
You can read more about Dr Euan's advice on Acute Sinusitis and Chronic Sinusitis here.
Who Gets Sinusitis?
Lots of people. About 35 million Americans have sinusitis at least once each year. You are more likely to experience sinusitis if you have:
Swelling inside the nose like from a common cold
Blocked drainage ducts
Structural differences that narrow those ducts
Nasal polyps
Immune system deficiencies or medications that suppress the immune system
Q: What are the common symptoms of Sinusitis?
1. Acute Sinusitis Symptoms
The main symptoms include:
Facial pain or pressure
"Stuffed-up" nose
Runny nose
Post nasal drip
Loss of smell
Cough or congestion
You may also have:
Fever
Bad breath
Fatigue
Dental pain
It may be acute sinusitis if you have two or more of such symptoms or thick, green, or yellow nasal discharge.
2. Chronic Sinusitis Symptoms
If you are suffering from chronic sinusitis, you may experience these symptoms for 12 weeks or more:
A feeling of congestion or fullness in your face
A nasal obstruction or nasal blockage
Pus in the nasal cavity
Fever
Runny nose or discoloured postnasal drainage
You may also have headaches, bad breath, and tooth pain. You may feel tired a lot.
Lots of things can cause symptoms like these. You'll need to see your doctor to find out if you have sinusitis.
Q: What are the available treatment options?
If you have a simple sinus infection, your doctor may recommend you use a decongestant and saline nasal washes. You shouldn’t use an over-the-counter decongestant for more than 3 days, though, because it can make you more congested. You can read more on Dr Euan's advice in his blogpost on Nasal Sprays.
If your doctor gives you antibiotics, you’ll probably take them for 10 to 14 days. The symptoms usually disappear with treatment. Warm, moist air may help if you have chronic sinusitis. You can use a vaporizer, or you can inhale steam from a pan of warm water. Make sure the water isn't too hot.
There are some other things you can do yourself to help with chronic sinusitis:
Warm compresses can ease pain in the nose and sinuses.
Drink plenty of fluids to keep mucus thin.
Saline nose drops are safe to use at home.
Over-the-counter decongestant drops or sprays can help. Don’t take them longer than recommended.
In some cases, your doctor may prescribe steroids along with antibiotics.
Treatments for chronic sinusitis include:
Nasal corticosteroids. These nasal sprays help prevent and treat inflammation. Examples include fluticasone, triamcinolone, budesonide, mometasone and beclomethasone. If the sprays aren't effective enough, your doctor might recommend rinsing with a solution of saline mixed with drops of budesonide or using a nasal mist of the solution.
Saline nasal irrigation, with nasal sprays or solutions, reduces drainage and rinses away irritants and allergies.
Oral or injected corticosteroids. These medications are used to relieve inflammation from severe sinusitis, especially if you also have nasal polyps. Oral corticosteroids can cause serious side effects when used long-term, so they're used only to treat severe symptoms.
Allergy medications. If allergies are causing sinusitis, your doctor may recommend allergy medications.
Aspirin de-sensitization treatment, if you have reactions to aspirin that cause sinusitis and nasal polyps. Under medical supervision, you're gradually given larger doses of aspirin to increase your tolerance.
Anti-fungal treatment. If your infection is due to fungi, you may have antifungal treatment.
Medication to treat nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis. If you have nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis, your doctor may give you an injection of dupilumab or omalizumab to treat your condition. These medications may reduce the size of the nasal polyps and lessen congestion.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are sometimes necessary for sinusitis if your infection is caused by bacteria. If your doctor can't rule out an underlying infection, he or she might recommend an antibiotic, sometimes with other medications.
Immunotherapy
If allergies are contributing to your sinusitis, allergy treatment (sub-lingual immunotherapy) that helps reduce the body's reaction to specific allergens might improve the condition.
Surgery
Endoscopic sinus surgery
In cases resistant to treatment or medication, endoscopic sinus surgery might be an option. For this procedure, the doctor uses a thin, flexible tube with an attached light (endoscope) to explore your sinus passages.
Depending on the source of the blockage, the doctor might use various instruments to remove tissue or shave away a polyp that's causing nasal blockage. Enlarging a narrow sinus opening also may be an option to promote drainage.
Balloon Sinuplasty
This is a new / novel way of treating sinusitis, by employing balloons to dilate open the sinus openings and thus restore the natural ventilation routes of the air filled para-nasal sinuses.
There are also various catheters that can be used to effectively irrigate the interior of the sinuses.
Diagram explaining Balloon Sinuplasty procedure
This is a minimally invasive procedure that is now commonly done in the USA and Europe; In Singapore, we have been offering balloon sinuplasty for the past 20 to 15 years.
Other Treatment Options
It would be best if you also avoided any triggers linked to your sinusitis.
If you have allergies, your doctor may recommend an antihistamine.
If a fungus is to blame, you’ll get a prescription for an antifungal medicine. Some patients develop hypersensitive reactions to fungi and may suffer from Allergic Fungal Sinusitis.
If you have certain immune deficiencies, your doctor may give you immunoglobulin, which helps fight the things your body reacts to.
Can I Prevent Sinusitis?
There is no surefire way to prevent sinusitis. But there are some things that might help.
Don’t smoke, and avoid other people's smoke.
Wash your hands often, especially during cold and flu season, and try not to touch your face.
Stay away from things you know you’re allergic to. Talk to your doctor to see if you need prescription medicines, allergy shots, or other forms of immunotherapy.
If your sinus problems keep coming back, ask your doctor about the pros and cons of surgery to clean and drain the sinuses.
We hope this advice helps you to keep your sinuses clear so that you can smell the roses!
If you would like to make an inquiry or appointment about sinusitis treatment, please feel free to Contact Us at Euan's ENT Surgery & Clinic.
Thank you for reading! We wish you a blessed 2023 ahead!
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