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