| Sinus infections are illnesses that affect | | | | and sphenoid sinuses (behind the ethmoids in |
| the sinuses. Also known as sinusitis, this | | | | the upper region of the nose and behind the |
| infection causes severe inflammation to the | | | | eyes). |
| sinuses, which are hollow cavities in the | | | | |
| bones around the nose. When a person suffers | | | | Even though everyone gets a sinus attack one |
| from fungal or viral infections like hay | | | | time or the other, acute and chronic sinus |
| fever, rhinitis, etc. these sinuses become | | | | attacks, which are of the more severe kind, |
| inflamed. Air and mucus may get blocked | | | | should be treated early. It is better to take |
| inside these inflamed sinuses, causing severe | | | | a specialists opinion before using any of the |
| pain and discomfort. Sometimes, there could | | | | over-the-counter drugs available in the |
| be a vacuum inside the sinuses. The main | | | | market. Even though pain killers and |
| symptoms of severe sinus infections are pain | | | | decongestants may provide some relief, severe |
| in the head, ear, or neck; headaches early in | | | | sinus infections need a more professional |
| the morning; pain in the upper jaw, cheeks, | | | | treatment with antibiotics and even steroids. |
| and teeth; swelling of the eyelids; pain | | | | Mostly, severe sinus infections may occur |
| between the eyes; stuffy nose; loss of smell; | | | | because of some other reason like asthma, |
| and tenderness near the nose. Sometimes, | | | | allergic rhinitis, allergies to fungi, |
| there could be fever, tiredness, weakness, | | | | primary immune deficiency, HIV infection, |
| severe cough, and runny nose. Very rarely, | | | | cystic fibrosis, and so on. In such cases, |
| acute sinusitis can lead to infection in the | | | | treatment should be provided for treating |
| brain or some other complication. | | | | these infections first. |
| | | | |
| Sinus infections are basically of thee kinds: | | | | Some most common treatments for severe sinus |
| acute (up to three weeks), chronic (three to | | | | infections are saline nasal rinses, topical |
| eight weeks or more) and recurring (frequent | | | | oral decongestants, antihistamines, mucolytic |
| attacks within a year). Sinus infections may | | | | agents, and intranasal corticosteroids. |
| also be classified on the basis of the kind | | | | Severe sinus infections that cannot be cured |
| of sinus: frontal sinuses (over the eyes in | | | | by medication call for surgery. Functional |
| the brow area), maxillary sinuses (inside | | | | endoscopic sinus surgery is a common surgery |
| each cheekbone), ethmoid sinuses (just behind | | | | for enlarging the sinus openings and allowing |
| the bridge of the nose and between the eyes), | | | | drainage. |