Sinus Diseases
Sinus is the name given to the hollow spaces in the bones around the nose, found in every human body. There are 5 types of sinuses in humans: buccal sinuses (maxillary sinuses), forehead sinuses (frontal sinuses), sinuses between the eyes (anterior and posterior ethmoid sinuses), and nasal sinuses (sphenoid sinuses). Sinuses begin to develop from childhood, and this development is completed until the age of 22-24. Sinuses are a part of the system of the nose which produces secretion. Thanks to this secretion, also known as mucus, mobility occurs on the mucosa and the bacteria and particles entering the nose are transmitted to the stomach, where they are broken down. This is a body function that happens unconsciously.
Sinusitis means inflammation of the mucosa in the sinuses. While sinusitis is one-time and can be overcome acutely, if it is chronic, people can struggle with sinusitis on a regular basis. Sinusitis is divided into 5 different categories: Acute, chronic, subacute, recurrent sinusitis and acute exacerbation of chronic sinusitis. Treatment changes can be seen according to the category of sinusitis. In the formation of sinusitis, there is usually the inability to discharge the produced fluid (mucus) into the nose. There may be various reasons behind this situation.
Causes And Symptoms of Sinusitis
Sinusitis can occur due to various reasons. While upper respiratory tract infections are among the most common causes of sinusitis, mucosal edema due to allergies, septum deviation, nasal concha enlargement and polyps are also significant factors causing sinusitis. Symptoms may vary depending on the cause of sinusitis.
Headache comes to mind among the classic symptoms of sinusitis. Although headache is one of its common effects at first, it has many different symptoms, and these effects vary from person to person. Other symptoms of sinusitis include coughing before going to bed at night or waking up in the morning, thick and yellow-green colored nasal discharge, nasal congestion and various symptoms such as snoring, bad breath, and nausea.
Treatment of Sinusitis
It is very crucial to identify the main cause of sinusitis in its treatment. The type of sinusitis also affects the treatment. Medication treatment is applied in people with acute sinusitis. This situation covers a period of about 4 weeks. In the subacute state, the sinusitis is between acute and chronic. In this case, antibiotic therapy is essential. Sinusitis that does not go away in up to three months can be called chronic, and surgical intervention can be applied. At this point, “Endoscopic Sinus Surgery” or “Balloon Sinoplasty Surgery” are applied in suitable patients. In both interventions, sinus channels are opened, allowing the person to breathe comfortably.
If it is a situation caused by allergens, allergy treatment should be applied to the person. In case of deviation and polyp, surgical interventions may be necessary, the structure in the nose can be corrected, and comfortable breathing can be ensured.