If symptoms of sinusitis are observed for more than 3 months or are often repeated (more than 3 times a year), the inflammatory process is considered chronic. Consider the detailed information about the causes, types and manifestations of this disease, as well as how to cure chronic sinusitis.
Causes of chronic sinusitis
The development of chronic sinusitis can be associated with various causes, the main of which are:
- chronic rhinitis;
- anomalies of the opening between the sinus and the nasal cavity;
- curvature of the nasal septum;
- allergic reactions;
- presence of foci of chronic infection (chronic tonsillitis, dental disease);
- professional hazards (dusty air, gas contamination);
- fungal infection, etc.
The aforementioned factors contribute to swelling of the nasal mucosa and paranasal sinuses, disruption of their natural cleansing and congestion of mucus. All this activates the development of the inflammatory process.
Symptoms of Chronic Sinusitis
Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are often not as pronounced as in an acute process. Basically, patients have such complaints:
- obstruction of nasal breathing;
- violation of smell and taste;
- mucous or purulent discharge from the nose;
- headache;
- weakness, general malaise;
- pain in the nasal sinuses.
Painful sensations differ depending on which of the paranasal sinuses have undergone inflammation:
- At front (inflammation of the frontal sinus) the pain is localized in the forehead area.
- With etmoiditis (inflammation of the mucous membranes of the cells of the latticed labyrinth), soreness is observed in the nose and inner corners of the eyes.
- With maxillary sinusitis (inflammation of the maxillary sinuses), pain is present in the projection of the maxillary sinuses, extends to the forehead, whiskey, and upper jaw.
- With sphenoiditis (inflammation of the sphenoid sinus), pain resembles squeezing the head with a vice, pain spreads to the eyeball.
Chronic polyposis sinusitis
In the polyposic form of chronic sinusitis in the paranasal sinuses and in the nasal cavity, a pathological proliferation of the mucous membrane is observed. Polyps are formed, consisting mainly of edematous tissue, which cover the exit of mucus and make breathing difficult. As a rule, this process lasts for years.
Chronic maxillary sinusitis
Inflammation of the maxillary sinuses, or sinusitis, is observed most often in comparison with other forms of sinusitis. Due to the anatomical location and structure of the maxillary sinus, the walls of which form an orbit and contact the membranes of the brain, chronic sinusitis is fraught with serious complications: cerebral edema, meningitis, meningoencephalitis, infection of the orbit,
Chronic purulent sinusitis
Chronic purulent sinusitis is caused by activation of the pathogenic bacterial flora. In most cases, there are signs of an organism intoxication, and the infection, spreading with the bloodstream, can cause damage to the internal organs - the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs.
How to treat chronic sinusitis?
Treatment of chronic sinusitis is carried out in the following main areas:
- ensuring the outflow of mucus and pus from the affected sinuses;
- elimination of the inflammatory process;
- increase the body's resistance.
As a rule, conservative treatment with the use of medicines is used. However, in some cases, surgical treatment is required (puncture and sounding of the sinuses, removal of polyps, correction of curvature of the nasal septum, etc.). When purulent processes can not do without antibiotics, which are appointed only after determining the causative agent of the infection and an analysis of its sensitivity to various types of drugs.
Various physiotherapy methods are widely used. Important in the treatment of chronic sinusitis
Treatment of chronic sinusitis with folk remedies
Traditional medicine suggests using for the treatment of chronic sinusitis such drugs as drops in the nose:
- Radish juice 2 to 3 drops in each nostril three times a day.
- A 2% solution of mummy is 3 to 4 drops in each nostril three times a day.
- A mixture of celandine juice, aloe and honey taken in equal proportions, 5 to 10 drops 3 to 5 times a day.