One of the most common diseases experienced by otolaryngologists is sinusitis. The term "sinusitis" refers to the inflammation of the mucous membranes of one or more paranasal sinuses (sinuses). How to recognize acute sinusitis and how to properly treat it, we consider in this article.
How does acute sinusitis develop?
Acute sinusitis in most cases develops as a complication of various infectious diseases of the respiratory tract (influenza, measles, scarlet fever, rhinitis, etc.), in which activation of the secondary microflora is possible. Also, this disease can be associated with injuries, surgery, dental disease, allergies.
In acute inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, as a result of the edema of the mucosa, their exit apertures are closed. Therefore, the infection accumulates in the sinus, which leads to the development of the inflammatory process.
Types of acute sinusitis
To date, there are many classifications of sinusitis. Let's consider the main ones.
Four types of disease are identified at the site of localization:
- maxillary sinusitis - inflammation of the maxillary (maxillary) sinus;
- frontitis - inflammation of the frontal (frontal) sinus;
- etmoiditis - inflammation of cells of the latticed bone (labyrinth);
- sphenoiditis - an inflammation of the sphenoid sinus.
If all the paranasal sinuses are involved in the inflammatory process, the diagnosis of the pancinusitis is made, and with the involvement of the sinuses on one half of the head - hemisinusitis.
In practical otorhinolaryngology, acute sinusitis is classified into two forms according to the nature of the inflammatory process:
- acute catarrhal sinusitis - affects only the surface of the mucosa;
- acute purulent sinusitis - a deeper lesion with a content of pus in the sinuses.
Most often catarrhal form corresponds to viral sinusitis, and purulent - bacterial.
Symptoms of acute sinusitis
The main symptoms of acute sinusitis are:
- increased body temperature;
- general weakness, sleep disturbance;
- nasal congestion;
- discharge from the nose (mucous or purulent);
- swelling of the soft tissues of the face in the affected sinus;
- headache of indeterminate localization;
- feeling of pressure and pain in the area of the affected sinus;
- deterioration of smell.
Diagnosis of acute sinusitis
To confirm the clinical manifestations of sinusitis, a blood test and an x-ray of the paranasal sinuses are performed. A computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses and a microbiological examination of the nasal discharge can also be performed.
Treatment of acute sinusitis
General and local therapy is used to treat acute sinusitis. As a general treatment, drugs that enhance immunity are prescribed. To normalize the outflow use vasoconstrictive drugs (Naphthyzine, Sanorin, Nazol, etc.), eliminating the edema of the nasal mucosa and the cavity of the paranasal sinuses. Also, local anti-inflammatory therapy is performed, antihistamines and resorptive drugs are prescribed (to prevent the formation of adhesions in the sinuses). Treatment of acute sinusitis with antibiotics is carried out only in the case of a bacterial form of the disease.
To remove pus and mucus can be used vacuum drainage, washing the sinuses with disinfectant solutions. When
Treatment of acute sinusitis with folk remedies
- Steam inhalation - for 5 - 10 minutes, wrapped in a towel, breathe over the steam broths of medicinal plants (peppermint, chamomile, calendula, eucalyptus, etc.), boiled potatoes in a uniform, water with the addition of a few drops of essential oil (tea tree, mint, eucalyptus, pine, etc.).
- Grate the washed cyclamen tuber, squeeze and filter the juice. Bury the nose with a juice 1 drop into each nostril daily in the morning.
- Daily rinse your nose with onion infusion, cooked this way: rub the onion on the grater, add a teaspoon of honey, insist 5 hours and strain.