Decongestants are typically not recommended for people with high blood pressure , prostate issues , glaucoma , or sleep difficulties. Talk to your doctor before taking any of these medicines to make sure that they are the best choice for your specific medical condition. Recent studies have shown the usefulness of nasal irrigation in both acute and chronic sinusitis, as well as allergic rhinitis and seasonal allergies. If using tap water, it is recommended that you boil the water and allow it to cool, or use a water filtration system.
Other options include buying distilled water or using over-the-counter premixed solutions. This saline and baking soda mixture can help clear your sinuses of discharge, relieve dryness, and flush allergens. The product GeloMytrol , which is an oral capsule of essential oils , and Sinupret , an oral mixture of elderflower, cowslip, sorrel, verbena, and gentian root, have shown in multiple studies including two from and to be effective in treating both acute and chronic sinusitis.
It is not recommended to mix these herbs yourself. Using too little or too much of each herb can have unintended side effects, such as allergic reactions or diarrhea. Talk to your doctor before attempting to take antibiotics for sinusitis. Side effects , such as a rash , diarrhea, or stomach issues, can result from taking antibiotics for sinusitis. Avoiding things that irritate your nose and sinuses can help decrease sinusitis. Cigarette smoke can make you especially prone to sinusitis.
Smoking damages the natural protective elements of your nose, mouth, throat, and respiratory system. Ask your doctor if you need help quitting or if interested in quitting. It can be an important step in preventing episodes of both acute and chronic sinusitis. Wash your hands frequently, especially during cold and flu season, to keep your sinuses from becoming irritated or infected by viruses or bacteria on your hands.
Talk to your doctor to see if allergies are causing your sinusitis. You may need to seek an allergy specialist for allergic immunotherapy shots or similar treatments. Keeping your allergies under control can help prevent repeated episodes of sinusitis. Nasal sprays, saline sprays, and pain relief are all effective treatments for acute sinusitis. Most children will fully recover from a sinus infection without antibiotics.
Antibiotics are used for severe cases of sinusitis or in children who have other complications because of sinusitis. An ENT specialist can take a culture of nose drainage to better understand the cause of an infection. The ENT specialist can also examine the sinuses more closely and look for any problem in the structure of the nasal passages that could lead to chronic sinus problems. Acute sinusitis usually goes away within one to two weeks with proper care and medication.
Chronic sinusitis is more severe and may require seeing a specialist or having long-term treatment to address the cause of the constant infections.
Chronic sinusitis can last for three or more months. Good hygiene, keeping your sinuses moist and clear, and treating symptoms immediately can help shorten the course of the infection. Many treatments and procedures exist for both acute and chronic cases. Even if you experience multiple acute episodes or chronic sinusitis, seeing a doctor or specialist can greatly improve your outlook after these infections.
These tests can reveal mucus blockages and any abnormal structures, such as polyps. A CT scan provides a 3-D picture of your sinuses. An MRI uses powerful magnets to create images of internal structures. Your doctor may also use a fiberoptic scope, which is a lighted tube that passes through your nose. A sample may be obtained during nasal endoscopy for culture testing to test for the presence an infection.
An allergy test identifies irritants that may cause an allergic reaction. A blood test can check for diseases that weaken the immune system, such as HIV. Nasal congestion is amongst the most common symptoms of a sinus infection. To help reduce the feeling of pain from sinus pressure, apply a warm, damp cloth to your face and forehead several times a day. Nasal saline rinses may help to clear the sticky and thick mucus from your nose. Drink water and juice to stay hydrated and help thin the mucus.
You can use an over-the-counter OTC medication, such as guaifenesin , that thins mucus. Use a humidifier in your bedroom to add moisture to the air. Turn on the shower and sit in the bathroom with the door closed to surround yourself with steam. Consider using OTC nasal corticosteroid spray.
There are decongestants available OTC, but you may want to consider asking your doctor about these before trying one. A sinus infection can trigger a sinus headache or pressure in your forehead and cheeks. Your doctor may have you schedule another visit to monitor your condition. The doctor may also order additional tests to determine whether allergies are triggering your sinusitis. Because sinus infections can develop after a cold, flu, or allergic reaction, a healthy lifestyle and reducing your exposure to germs and allergens can help prevent an infection.
To reduce your risk, you can:. Sinus infections are treatable, and most people recover without seeing a doctor or taking antibiotics. Sinus infections happen when fluid builds up in the air-filled pockets in the face sinuses , which allows germs to grow. Viruses cause most sinus infections, but bacteria can cause some sinus infections. When you have a sinus infection, one or more of your sinuses becomes inflamed and fluid builds up, causing congestion and runny nose.
This list is not all-inclusive. Please see a doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning. Your doctor will determine if you have a sinus infection by asking about symptoms and doing a physical examination. Antibiotics are not needed for many sinus infections. Most sinus infections usually get better on their own without antibiotics.
Side effects can range from minor issues, like a rash, to very serious health problems, such as antibiotic-resistant infections and C. However, in some cases, antibiotics are needed. It is not painful. Your allergist may give you a light anesthetic nasal spray to make you more comfortable. Mucus cultures: If your sinus infection is chronic or has not improved after several rounds of antibiotics, a mucus culture may help to determine what is causing the infection.
Most mucus samples are taken from the nose. However, it is sometimes necessary to get mucus or pus directly from the sinuses. Knowing what kind of bacteria is causing the infection can lead to more effective antibiotic therapy. A fungus could also cause your sinus infection.
Confirming the presence of fungus is important. Fungal sinus infection needs to be treated with antifungal agents, rather than antibiotics. In addition, some forms of fungal sinus infection — allergic fungal sinus infection, for example — do not respond to antifungal agents and often require the use of oral steroids.
Your allergist may consider ordering a sinus CT. This test can help to define the extent of the infection. Your allergist may also send you to a specialist in allergy and immunology. The specialist will check for underlying factors such as allergies, asthma, structural defects, or a weakness of the immune system. Biopsies: A danger of more serious types of fungal sinus infection is that the fungus could penetrate into nearby bone. Only a bone biopsy can determine if this has happened.
Biopsies involving sinus tissue are taken with flexible instruments inserted through the nose. Biopsies of the sinus tissue are also used to test for immotile cilia syndrome, a rare disorder that can cause people to suffer from recurrent infections, including chronic sinus infection, bronchitis and pneumonia. Antibiotics are standard treatments for bacterial sinus infections. Antibiotics are usually taken from 3 to 28 days, depending on the type of antibiotic. Because the sinuses are deep-seated in the bones, and blood supply is limited, longer treatments may be prescribed for people with longer lasting or severe cases.
Overuse and abuse of antibiotics have been causing a major increase in antibiotic resistance. Therefore, patients with sinus symptoms should consider taking an antibiotic only if symptoms including discolored nasal discharge persist beyond days. Antibiotics help eliminate a sinus infection by attacking the bacteria that cause it, but until the drugs take effect, they do not do much to alleviate symptoms.
Some over-the-counter medications can help provide relief. Topical nasal decongestants can be helpful if used for no more than three to four days. These medications shrink swollen nasal passages, facilitating the flow of drainage from the sinuses. Overuse of topical nasal decongestants can result in a dependent condition in which the nasal passages swell shut, called rebound phenomenon. Antihistamines block inflammation caused by an allergic reaction so they can help to fight symptoms of allergies that can lead to swollen nasal and sinus passages.
Over-the-counter combination drugs should be used with caution. Some of these drugs contain drying agents that can thicken mucus. Only use them when prescribed by your allergist.
These prescription nasal sprays prevent and reverse inflammation and swelling in the nasal passages and sinus openings, addressing the biggest problem associated with sinus infection. Topical nasal corticosteroid sprays are also effective in shrinking and preventing the return of nasal polyps. If drug therapies have failed, surgery may be recommended as a last resort. It is usually performed by an otolaryngologist.
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