You’ve probably heard about sinusitis at some point in your life. Maybe, a loved one or friend has been diagnosed with sinusitis. Either way, it always pays off to know what sinus infection is all about to better deal with it. And that’s what this simple guide will help you uncover today before visiting your healthcare provider.
Well, sinusitis is an inflammation, or swelling, of the tissue lining your sinuses. For those who might not know, sinuses are structures inside your face that are normally filled with air. Bacterial infections, viral infections and allergies can irritate them, causing them to get blocked and filled with fluid. This can lead to pressure and pain in your face, nasal congestion and other symptoms.
There are different types of sinusitis that you need to be aware of for better diagnosis and understanding of the symptoms. Actually, the types of sinusitis are based on how long it has been going on (acute, subacute, chronic or recurrent) and what’s causing it (bacteria, virus, or fungus).
It is essential that you understand the signs and symptoms of each type of sinusitis to better handle it. For starters, acute sinusitis include nasal congestion, drainage, facial pain and decreased sense of smell. These symptoms last less than four weeks and are usually caused by viruses like the common cold.
Chronic sinusitis symptoms last four to 12 weeks, while chronic sinusitis symptoms last at least 12 weeks. Recurrent acute sinusitis symptoms come back four or more times in one year and last less than two weeks each time.
As mentioned above, bacteria can also cause sinusitis, or they can infect you after a case of viral sinusitis. If you happen to have a runny nose, stuffy nose and facial pain that doesn’t go away after ten days, you might have bacterial sinusitis.
It may seem like your symptoms are improving only for them to return and are worse than the initial symptoms. The good news is antibiotics and decongestants tend to work well on bacterial sinusitis.
We can never conclude without mentioning sinusitis. Sinus infections caused by fungus are usually more serious than other forms of sinusitis. They are more likely to happen if your have a weakened immune system.
Ensure you research more about the signs and symptoms of sinusitis to be certain that you are suffering from any of the mentioned types.