Sinusitis is an inflammatory disease of the cavities on either side of the nasal passages. These are called paranasal sinuses. The factors that can cause them are diverse and varied, but they usually appear as a result of complications of catarrhal and allergic processes or dental problems. They are often aggravated by alterations of the nasal cavities, such as a deviated septum or turbinate problems.
Although it is not a disease that affects a particular age group, it is more frequent in children due to the fact that this is a population that presents a greater number of upper respiratory tract infections. Sinusitis should be suspected when the patient presents with abundant mucus, nasal obstruction and facial or headache heaviness or pain. These are the main symptoms, although on some occasions, nasal bleeding, decreased sense of smell, dental pain, eye discomfort or fever may indicate that the person in question is suffering from sinusitis.
Two types
There are basically two types of sinusitis: Acute or Chronic. Acute sinusitis lasts less than three months, and its origin is usually infectious, caused by virus or bacteria as a result of a cold or an allergic crisis. Chronic sinusitis, on the other hand, is due to a persistent infection or an inflammatory alteration that results in the formation of polyps that obstruct the nasal passages.
The problem of not treating sinusitis in time is that it goes from being acute to chronic. This considerably alters the patient’s quality of life, and can last for months or even years, often requiring surgical treatment to end it.