Sunday 12 August 2012

Causes and Symptoms of Sinusitis

By Dr. Chris Cowell


Sinusitis means inflammation of a sinus. Most bouts of sinusitis are caused by an infection. The cheekbone (maxillary) sinuses are the most commonly affected. That number may be significantly higher, since the symptoms of bacterial sinusitis often mimic those of colds or allergies, and many sufferers never see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment with an antibiotic.

Acute bacterial sinusitis is an infection of the sinus cavities caused by bacteria. It usually is preceded by a cold, allergy attack, or irritation by environmental pollutants. Unlike a cold, or allergy, bacterial sinusitis requires a physician's diagnosis and treatment with an antibiotic to cure the infection and prevent future complications.

There's a bunch of factors to consider that can contribute growth of sinus infection or sinusitis. Causes are fungal, bacterial and viral infections. Pain and headaches are commonly the symptoms of sinusitis or sinus infection. Frequent sinus pain and pressure is always experienced. It is normal to swelling in the sinuses. There may be fever as it still stays behind in the sinuses. It could result to sore throat and bad breath as it's continuously dripping back of the throat. Sinusitis is always treated with antibiotics. Sinus cavities can also blocked due to abnormal growth of tissues, such as tumor, but it is rare cases.

Sinus transillumination is a procedure that can be helpful or not. By means of using a flashlight pushed up the skin of the cheek. At the same time the patient's is said to open their mouth. As to see if the light from the nasal passages are blocked. This is not ideal way of diagnosing sinusitis. But this is can be helpful in other way of test.

Antibiotic resistance means that some infection-causing bacteria are immune to the effects of certain antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. Antibiotic resistance is making even common infections, such as sinusitis, challenging to treat.

You can help prevent antibiotic resistance. Because the symptoms of sinusitis sometimes mimic those of colds and allergies, you may not realize you need to see a doctor. If the doctor prescribes an antibiotic, it is important that you take all of the medication just as your doctor instructs, even if your symptoms are gone before the medicine runs out. Allergy testing, followed by appropriate allergy treatments, may increase your tolerance of allergy-causing substances.




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