Chronic Sinus Infections

AN OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

Chronic sinus infections or chronic sinusitis is a long-lasting infection and inflammation of your sinuses. It’s considered chronic when the condition lasts longer than 12 weeks. However, some ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialists and head and neck surgeons use 8 to 12 weeks as criteria to designate it as chronic. The sinuses are four paired spaces or cavities in the head. These cavities are connected to each other through narrow channels. They’re aptly named for the bones they’re near to: maxillary, frontal, sphenoidal, and ethmoidal. These sinuses produce mucus that drains out of the channels of your nose. This type of drainage functions as a filtration system, keeping your nose clean and devoid of harmful microorganisms.

The paired sinuses can become infected when they’re blocked. As a result, fluids from the mucous membranes start to accumulate. This pathologic condition is called sinusitis. There are four main types of sinusitis: recurrent, acute, subacute, and chronic.

Recurrent sinusitis is different from chronic sinusitis because you have symptom-free periods in between. However, the symptoms of chronic sinusitis never really go away. That is what makes it problematic and inconvenient.

Acute sinusitis is the most common type of sinus infection. It usually lasts approximately 1 to 4 weeks. If it lasts more than 4 weeks, but less than 8 weeks, it’s called subacute sinusitis.

Note: Most doctors prefer the term chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS for short) over chronic sinusitis since inflammation of the sinuses rarely occurs without simultaneous inflammation of the nasal cavity.

HOW COMMON IS CHRONIC SINUSITIS?

In Australia, it’s estimated that 1.4 in every 100 general practice consultations were for acute or chronic sinusitis. From 2011 to 2012, approximately 1.9 million Australians experienced the symptoms of chronic sinusitis. Statistics for the incidence of chronic sinusitis in New Zealand are presently unavailable. Its extrapolated incidence is 12.3% in the USA, 13% in China, and 10.9% in Europe. It has been demonstrated that the social impact of chronic sinusitis is more significant than back pain, chest pain, or heart failure.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC SINUSITIS?

1. Pressure or tenderness around the nose, eyes, and forehead
2. Mucus slides or drips down your throat (called postnasal drip). A very icky feeling
3. Stuffy/blocked nose
4. Runny nose with thick green or yellow discharge from the nose
5. Headache
6. Toothache
7. Ear pain
8. Loss of sense of smell and taste
9. Bad breath(halitosis)
10. Cough
11. Fatigue
12. The symptoms last more than 8 to 12 weeks

Diagnostic tests that can aid in diagnosing chronic sinusitis include endoscopy, CT scan, MRI, and biopsy for a few selected cases.

CAUSES OF CHRONIC SINUSITIS

1. Blocked airways from allergies or asthma because of excess mucus production and airway constriction. It’s surprising to know that 10 to 40% of rhinosinusitis patients also report that they have asthma.


2. Cystic fibrosis. People with cystic fibrosis often develop chronic sinusitis because of inflammation of the respiratory mucous membranes.


3. Frequent infections: fungal, viral, or bacterial.


4. A weakened immune system (immunodeficiency and immunocompromised).



5. Deviated septum and other abnormal nose structures. A deviated septum is characterised by a crooked line of cartilage and bone down the middle of the nose.


6. Presence of nasal polyps.

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis can be treated or cured. However, most of the time, you’ll need to use more than one form of therapy.

Antibiotics will be prescribed to you if your doctor thinks that the cause is a bacterial infection. Antifungal medication is used if the biopsy reveals a fungal cause.

Intranasal corticosteroid sprays are indicated to reduce the inflammation in your sinuses. If that doesn’t work, leukotriene antagonists are incorporated into the treatment.

Allergic rhinitis can worsen sinusitis, especially chronic sinusitis. Avoid your triggers. Other medical conditions that need to be treated include asthma and autoimmune diseases. Antihistamine pills will be prescribed to you.

Surgery is used to correct a deviated nasal septum, remove polyps, and even eliminate clumps of fungal tissues that block sinuses (called fungal balls).

A procedure called balloon sinus ostial dilation (yes, it’s a mouthful) inserts a balloon into a sinus space to open it and drain mucus.

Chronic sinusitis is rarely dangerous and life-threatening. However, it may become fatal if it spreads beyond the sinuses and extends into your brain, spine, and bones. Consult your doctor if you think you may have chronic sinusitis.

Aside from a general practitioner, a combination of specialists may be needed to help you get rid of your chronic sinusitis, depending on its severity. These specialists include ENT specialists (also called otorhinolaryngologists or head and neck surgeons), allergists or immunologists, and pulmonologists.

Natural Remedies to Deal with the Symptoms of Chronic Sinusitis

1. Inhale steam vapours. This one’s a practical one. You can inhale steam from a bowl of warm water or sit inside the bathroom and run hot water from the shower. The steam vapours ease swollen and congested nasal passages and blocked airways. A wet and warm towel can also alleviate the pressure and heaviness building up in your sinuses.


2. Try humidifiers. They add moisture to the air surrounding you. They’re most beneficial during the cold months when cold air dries out your nasal cavity, sinuses, throat, and lungs. Dryness can be a risk factor for developing sinus infections. Some humidifiers also act as diffusers.


3. Nasal rinses with saline. This remedy is also known as saline irrigation, saline lavage, or saltwater wash. Saline or saltwater washes out the dried or thick mucus from your nasal passages. It also helps prevent post nasal drip and clears the sinuses, avoiding infection to other tissues. It also keeps your nasal cavity moist. You can purchase the kits from a pharmacy to do at home, it’s very easy and can offer instant relief.


4. Essential oil vapours and inhalations. The most common and convenient way to use essential oils is to inhale them. The inhalation method (with a diffuser, open the bottle and inhale, or dry evaporation) may vary, but the benefits are the same. Lavender and peppermint essential oils are noted for their ability to relieve sinus congestion.


5. Allergens trigger allergies (airborne or from food) and asthma. The symptoms of chronic sinusitis are worsened when you have allergies or an asthma attack and vice versa. Consult your doctor about identifying your specific allergens so you can avoid them and prevent exacerbating the symptoms.


6. Drink plenty of fluids. Fluids make your mucus thin and non-sticky. This reduces obstruction in your sinuses. Alcohol, on the other hand, worsens the condition by drying out your sinuses and increasing congestion.


7. Rest and recuperate. Your body is trying to fight off infection and inflammation in your sinuses. Give it time to recover. Avoid too much stress and get ample sleep.


8. Garlic vs chronic sinusitis. A compound called allicin present in garlic exhibits antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Other compounds present like ajoene and allicin stimulate your immune system.



All these compounds help in alleviating the symptoms of chronic sinusitis. You can boil water with 3 to 4 pods of crushed garlic in it. Turn off the heat and breathe in the steam. Garlic takes care of the inflammation and infection while steam thins out your mucus.



9. Horseradish vs chronic sinusitis. Horseradish is said to increase blood circulation in your face and clear mucus from your sinuses and upper respiratory tract. In addition, extracts of the horseradish root have been traditionally used to treat upper respiratory tract infections. Glucosinolates and their breakdown products are the compounds responsible for their claimed health benefits.


10. Colloidal silver vs chronic sinusitis. Colloidal silver is known to have remarkable antibiotic properties because of its anti biofilm activity against common bacteria causing sinusitis. You can use it as a nasal rinse instead of just saltwater. Aqueous colloidal silver does sting a bit when flushed into your nasal cavity and sinuses. After a few minutes, the discomfort subsides.


11. Serrapeptase and other proteolytic enzymes reduce the viscosity (stickiness and thickness) of your mucus. This thins out your mucus, making drainage through your sinuses easier. Nattokinase, in particular, can effectively decrease the size of nasal polyps in addition to thinning out mucus. As mentioned above, nasal polyps contribute to the development of chronic sinusitis. Bromelain is another useful enzyme in the treatment of chronic sinusitis. It essentially decreases inflammation in your nasal passages and sinuses, allowing smooth and unobstructed passage of mucus.

Chronic sinusitis or chronic sinus infection is a medical condition that leads to a significant decrease in people's quality of life. That’s an undeniable fact. Lucky for this group of people, there are several conventional treatments available. In addition, natural remedies help relieve the symptoms of chronic sinusitis. If you think you may have chronic sinusitis, consult with your doctor.