Sinusitis

Sinuses are air filled spaces in the skull, located behind your forehead, eyes, nose and cheeks. They are lined with a thin membrane that makes mucus, which drains out through your nose. Sinusitis happens when the lining becomes inflamed or infected. This makes it harder for the mucus to drain properly, and the sinuses become blocked.

Acute sinusitis usually gets better within 1 to 2 weeks. Sinusitis lasting for longer than 3 months is called chronic sinusitis.

Acute sinusitis

Sinusitis is usually caused by a virus. Less common causes are a bacterial infection or allergies.

Chronic sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis is usually caused by inflammation in your nose and sinuses rather than from an infection. You are more at risk of getting chronic sinusitis if you:

• have hayfever
• have asthma
• have allergies
• smoke
• have growths (polyps) inside your nose and sinuses.

Acute sinusitis

Common symptoms include:

• a headache or pain around your eyes, forehead, cheeks or teeth which gets worse when leaning forward
• feeling of pressure around your face and inside your head
• a blocked or stuffy nose
• a runny nose
• mucus from the sinus area dripping down the inside of your throat (post-nasal drip)
• loss of sense of smell or taste

Chronic sinusitis

You have chronic sinusitis if you have sinusitis for longer than 3 months. Symptoms include:

• blocked or runny nose
• pain or a feeling of pressure in your face
• reduced sense of smell and taste
• sore ears or teeth
• bad breath
• sore throat or cough.

Acute sinusitis

Your healthcare provider can usually diagnose acute sinusitis from your symptoms. They may also check to see if you have a temperature or if you have tenderness around your sinuses. They may also examine your nose, as often the lining of your nose swells up when you have acute sinusitis.

They may also ask you to have a CT scan if the diagnosis is not clear.

Chronic sinusitis

Your healthcare provider can diagnose chronic sinusitis by:

• reviewing your medical history
• completing an examination
• doing some tests for example, a CT scan of your sinuses.

Acute sinusitis

You can treat sinusitis with:

• paracetamol or ibuprofen
• decongestant nasal spray
• steroid nasal spray
• nasal salt water (saline) rinses
• antihistamines if sinusitis is due to an allergy.

Chronic sinusitis

Treating any underlying conditions for example stopping smoking, treating asthma, will help reduce your symptoms. Your healthcare provider may also suggest you:

• use a nasal salt water (saline) rinse
• use nasal steroid sprays
• take antibiotics.

Using a nasal saline rinse can help:

• thin and decrease the amount of mucus you produce in your nose
• stop it from draining into the back of your throat
• rinse away allergens and irritants that make your nose itchy and make you sneeze.

If you are using a nasal saline rinse, use it before you use any prescribed nasal medicines including steroids. Nasal steroid medicines include:

• Alanase or Beconase (beclometasone dipropionate)
• Butacort or Eltair (budesonide)
• Flixonase or Clearnase (fluticasone propionate).

For adults, several nasal rinse devices are available, such as Sinus Rinse and Neti Pot. You can use these with commercial rinses such as NeilMed sinus rinse packets, or you can make your own saline rinse. Follow the instructions that come with the device.

Making your own saline rinse

To make a rinse, dissolve half a teaspoon of salt and a quarter of a teaspoon of baking soda in 250 ml of warm distilled or boiled, allowed to cool water. Do not use tap water as it can cause bacterial infections. You can use table salt, but if this irritates your nasal passages, try using additive-free sea salt that is non-iodised.

Buying a saline rinse

You can buy a saline rinse at pharmacies and some supermarkets. Make sure to follow the instructions on the packet.

Stop using the rinse if it causes:

• pain
• a nosebleed
• any other problem.

After using the rinse, you can keep using your prescribed nasal medicines as normal.

To help relieve the pain and discomfort caused by sinusitis, try these home treatments.

• Rest to help your body to heal faster.
• Keep hydrated and drink lots of fluids to help thin the mucus.
• Hold a hot compress or warm face pack over the painful area.
• Consider using salt water (saline) nasal spray or drops, or a sinus rinse to relieve congestion and blockage in your nose.