| A sinusitis infection may appear to be a common cold | | | | leads to little or no relief from the treatment. These |
| when it first begins. Cold symptoms such as runny | | | | medications can also cause side effects throughout |
| nose, cough, and congestion generally exist. Sinusitis | | | | the rest of the body since they travel through the |
| cannot be treated with cold medication and if it is in | | | | blood stream and through the whole body. |
| fact sinusitis, it needs to be treated quickly before | | | | Treatments such as nasal sprays and irrigation are |
| more severe symptoms occur. | | | | also frequently used. These treatments are distributed |
| Sinusitis usually is caused by a cold or an allergy. | | | | directly into the nasal cavities. These treatments are |
| Swelling of the sinus cavity lining occurs with a cold or | | | | used to moisten the cilia so that it can flush out the |
| allergy. When bacteria enter the sinus cavities, and | | | | trapped mucus and bacteria. Nasal sprays are |
| attack the swollen lining, greater inflammation occurs. | | | | commonly used and can be prescribed or purchased |
| The cilia is what usually flushes out the bacteria and | | | | over the counter. The nasal sprays may offer some |
| mucus but when a great amount of inflammation | | | | relief to the lower part of the sinuses but often times |
| occurs, the cilia can no longer function and so the | | | | may not help the infection since their particle sizes are |
| bacteria and mucus become trapped in the sinus | | | | too large to make it past the inflammation at the |
| cavities and as a result the sinusitis infection begins. | | | | opening of the sinus cavities and up to the sinusitis |
| The problems which may occur with acute sinusitis | | | | infection. The same is for irrigation which usually uses a |
| may include cough, congestion, facial pain and | | | | water pick to distribute saline up to the sinus cavities. |
| pressure, headache, green nasal discharge, and | | | | Irrigation is also very messy and generally unsuccessful |
| postnasal drip. When the sinusitis infection becomes | | | | in treating the sinusitis infection. |
| chronic and lasts for twelve or more weeks, a person | | | | Aerosolized medications are a newer treatment which |
| can have added problems such as loss of sense of | | | | also distributes the medications directly into the nasal |
| taste and smell and fatigue may also take place. Other | | | | cavities. Aerosolized medications are used similar to |
| symptoms may also occur depending on which sinus | | | | nebulized asthma medications. These antibiotics, |
| cavity that the infection lies in. | | | | anti-fungals, and anti-inflammatories are broken down |
| There are several medications and other treatments | | | | into a small particle size so that it can pass the |
| that are meant to help offer relief for the symptoms | | | | inflammation and make its way up to the sinusitis |
| that occur with a sinusitis infection. Oral medications | | | | infection. Generally a small amount of these |
| such as antibiotics, decongestants, and anti-fungals are | | | | medications are used which results in little to no side |
| commonly used treatments for sinusitis. Oral | | | | effects in the rest of the body. |
| medications work on infections and by traveling | | | | There are many treatment options for sinusitis suffers. |
| through the blood stream to the area where the | | | | Treatments will work different for each person |
| infection lies. Oral medications use the blood stream to | | | | because our bodies are so different and react |
| travel to the area where they are needed, but in the | | | | differently. It's important to know the difference |
| sinus cavities there are only a small amount of blood | | | | between when you are getting a cold and getting a |
| vessels so only a small amount of the medication can | | | | sinusitis infection and to know what treatments work |
| be delivered to the sinusitis infection which generally | | | | best for you. |