Sinusitis
Sinusitis is an infection of the sinuses near the nose. These infections usually occur after a cold or after an allergic inflammation. Depending on the duration of the clinical manifestations the course of the diseases may be chronic, acute or recurrent. A sinus infection happens when there are predisposing factors for blocking the sinus passages,excessive mucus production and thriving conditions for bacterial overgrowth. There are other possible conditions that can block the normal flow of secretions out of the sinuses and can lead to sinusitis. These may include: abnormalities in the structure of the nose, enlarged adenoids, trauma to the nose, and foreign objects that are stuck in the nose.
Symptoms
Symptoms in children may include: runny nose that lasts longer than 7 to 10 days. (the discharge is usually thick green or yellow, but can also be clear), night time cough, swelling around the eyes. Symptoms in adults are: runny nose that lasts longer than 7-10 days, complaints of a drip in the throat from the nose, cough, headache on bending forward, bad breath, swelling around the eyes.
More Information
Diagnosis is made by:
- Medical history and physical examination
- Sinus X-ray
- Cultures from the nose
- Computerised tomography of the sinuses
- Routine blood testing
- Allergology testing
