Sinusitis is considered to be an inflammation of the hollow cavities that are located in the bones surrounding the nose, due to an allergy or a viral, bacterial or fungal infection.
These are the possibilities that exist of suffering from sinusitis:
- Have had a cold.
- Certain medications, such as long-term use of decongestant sprays.
- Nasal obstruction due to: (Facial bone abnormalities, Deviated septum, Cleft palate, Polyps, Tumor, Allergies.
- The most common cause of sinusitis are viruses, mainly rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, and influenza (flu) or parainfluenza viruses, among others.
There are certain factors that increase the possibility of suffering from sinusitis. These are:
- Age: both young people and the elderly are groups more susceptible to sinusitis.
- Gender: Women are usually more likely to have sinusitis than men.
- Environmental factors: such as traveling to high altitudes, or air pollution.
- Smoking: the increased possibility of suffering from sinusitis occurs in both active and passive smokers.
- Certain activities: for example flying or swimming.
Sinusitis includes three factors:
- Obstruction of the sinus outlet, for example by inflammation of the mucosa due to infection or allergy, or when there is a nasal polyp.
- The reduction of the movement of the cilia that are in the epithelium that lines the sinuses, and that normally cleanse the sinuses by mobilizing respiratory secretions. This occurs in some diseases of genetic origin, such as Kartagener’s Syndrome, but also due to exposure to tobacco, some medications, chemical compounds, infections, allergies, etc.
- Increased viscosity of secretions that occurs in some diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
Acute sinusitis usually does not need any treatment, however for symptomatic relief the intake of analgesics, nasal drops and some saline nasal washes are recommended.
Treatment of acute bacterial sinusitis can use amoxicillin, clarithromycin, or azithromycin. If the evolution is not good, second-line antibiotics such as amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefuroxime, levofloxacin, etc. are used.
Cases of sinusitis caused by dental infections require specific treatments against bacteria called anaerobes that are usually involved in this type of infection.
Sinusitis treatment is given for one to two weeks. Sometimes it is necessary to administer intravenous antibiotics to the most severe patients with symptoms of general involvement.
In case of nosocomial sinusitis (infection acquired in the hospital), the most common pathogens are Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative bacilli; in these circumstances, it is advisable to perform sinus cultures to guide treatment. Broad-spectrum intravenous treatment is initially applied, which will then be adapted to the results of the culture. As for fungal sinusitis, they are treated with surgery and the use of antifungal drugs.
