Chronic sinusitis is a very prevalent chronic illness in the US and it affects people of all age groups. According to Medscape, chronic sinusitis or CRS affects 146 out of 1000 people. Moreover, the incidence of chronic sinusitis is increasing every year with 18-22 million physician visits and direct treatment costs of close to $5 billion annually.

According to Mayo Clinic, chronic sinusitis occurs when the sinuses (the spaces inside your nose and head) become swollen and/or inflamed for a long duration (typically three months or longer) despite treatment.

Symptoms of Chronic Sinusitis

The most common symptoms of chronic sinusitis are nasal inflammation, runny nose, postnasal drainage, congested nose, and difficulty in breathing through your nose.

Moreover, pain, swelling, and tenderness around the nose, eyes, cheeks, or forehead and a reduced sense of taste and smell can also be symptoms of CRS.

Other symptoms include headache, earache, cough or throat clearing, ache in teeth and upper jaw, bad breath, sore teeth, and fatigue. Chronic sinusitis has many symptoms similar to acute sinusitis but acute sinusitis is a temporary infection whereas a chronic one lasts for months.

Causes of Chronic Sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis can be caused by various issues and infections. Following are the most common ones:

Nasal polyps

Nasal polyps are tissue growths that can block the sinuses or nasal passages and can make it difficult to breathe through your nose.

Allergies

Environmental allergies such as allergies to chemicals or pollens or hay fever can also cause chronic sinusitis. These allergies cause inflammation in your nasal passages.

Respiratory Tract Infections

Infections in the respiratory tract such as colds can also thicken and inflame the sinus membranes and prevent mucus drainage. Bacteria and viruses are common culprits for these infections.

Other Conditions

Complications from several other conditions like HIV, cystic fibrosis, and immune-related diseases can also cause nasal blockage, leading to chronic sinusitis.

Treatment for Chronic Sinusitis

There are several treatment options when it comes to chronic sinusitis but they depend on the cause of the illness and it’s better to consult a sinus and allergy specialist regarding diagnosis and treatment.

However, symptoms can be improved with the help of nasal, oral, or injected corticosteroids, saline nasal irrigation, allergy medications, medication to treat nasal polyps, antifungal treatment, and aspirin desensitization treatment.

For bacteria-caused infections, antibiotics are also required and immunotherapy is often recommended in case of allergies. In case medication or treatment isn’t working, sinus surgery is also an option.

Looking for Sinus Treatment in Odessa, TX?

If you suspect you have chronic sinusitis, you can consider reaching out to Dr. John D Bray MD, a well-known sinus and allergy specialist in Odessa, TX. Get in touch now to find out more about how he can help you with the diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan.