Overview
Acute back pain is most often caused by the common cold. Other triggers include bacteria, allergies and fungal infections. Treatment of acute sinusitis depends on the cause. In most cases, home remedies are all that's needed. However, persistent sinusitis can lead to serious infections and other complications. Sinusitis that lasts more than eight weeks, or keeps coming back, is known as chronic sinusitis .
Symptoms
Acute sinusitis symptoms often include:
- Drainage of a thick, yellow or greenish discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat
- Nasal obstruction or congestion, causing difficulty breathing through your nose
- Pain, tenderness, swelling and pressure around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead
- Aching in your upper jaw and teeth
- Reduced sense of smell and taste
- Cough, which may be worse at night
Other signs and symptoms can include:
- Ear pain
- Sore throat
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Fever
- Nausea
When to see a doctor ?
If you have mild symptoms of sinusitis, try self-care. Contact your doctor if you have any of the following:
Symptoms that don't improve within a few days or symptoms that get worseA fever over 100.5 F (38.1 C) A history of recurrent or chronic sinusitis
See a doctor immediately if you have signs or symptoms that may indicate a serious infection:
Pain or swelling around your eyesA swollen foreheadSevere headacheConfusionDouble vision or other vision changesStiff neckShortness of breath
Causes
Acute sinusitis can be caused by:
Viral infection - Most cases of acute sinusitis are caused by the common cold.
Bacterial infection - When an upper respiratory tract infection persists longer than seven to 10 days, it's more likely to be caused by a bacterial infection than by a viral infection.
Fungal infection - You're at increased risk of a fungal infection if you have sinus abnormalities or a weakened immune system.
Allergies such as hay fever - Inflammation that occurs with allergies may block your sinuses.
Nasal polyps or tumors - These tissue growths may block the nasal passages or sinuses.
Deviated nasal septum - A crooked septum — the wall between the nostrils — may restrict or block sinus passages.
Tooth infection - A small number of cases of acute sinusitis are caused by an infected tooth.
Enlarged or infected adenoids in children - Adenoids are located in the upper back part of the throat.
Other medical conditions - The complications of cystic fibrosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or immune system disorders may result in blocked sinuses or an increased risk of infection.
Risk factors
You're at increased risk of getting sinusitis if you have:
High fever or another allergic condition that affects your sinusesA nasal passage abnormality, such as a deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps or tumorsA medical condition such as cystic fibrosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or an immune system disorder such as immunoglobulin or antibody deficiency Regular exposure to pollutants such as cigarette smoke
Complications
Acute sinusitis complications include:
- Asthma flare-ups . Acute sinusitis can trigger an asthma attack.
- Chronic sinusitis . Acute sinusitis may be a flare-up of a long-term problem known as chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis is sinusitis that lasts longer than eight weeks.
- Meningitis . This occurs when infection spreads to the lining of the brain.
- Vision problems . If infection spreads to your eye socket, it can cause reduced vision or even blindness. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent potentially permanent damage.
- Aneurysms or blood clots . Infection can cause problems in the veins surrounding the sinuses, interfering with blood supply to your brain and putting you at risk of a stroke.
- Ear infection . Acute sinusitis may occur along with an ear infection.
Tests and diagnosis
To look for the cause of your symptoms, your doctor will feel for tenderness in your nose or throat. Your doctor may use a tool to hold your nose open and apply medication that constricts blood vessels in your nasal passages. This makes it easier to see inside your nasal passages. Your doctor will then shine a light into your nasal passages to look for inflammation or fluid. This visual inspection will also help rule out physical conditions that trigger sinusitis, such as nasal polyps or other abnormalities.
Your doctor may use several methods to help screen for acute sinusitis:
Nasal endoscopy - A thin, flexible tube (endoscope) with a fiber-optic light inserted through your nose allows your doctor to visually inspect the inside of your sinuses.Imaging studies - Images taken using computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can show details of your sinuses and nasal area. These may identify a deep inflammation or physical obstruction that's difficult to detect using an endoscope. Nasal and sinus cultures - Laboratory tests are generally unnecessary for diagnosing acute sinusitis. However, in cases in which the condition fails to respond to treatment or is progressing, tissue cultures may help pinpoint the cause, such as identifying a bacterial cause.An allergy test - If your doctor suspects that the condition may be brought on by allergies, an allergy skin test may be recommended. A skin test is safe and quick, and can help pinpoint the allergen that's responsible for your nasal flare-ups.
Treatments and drugs
Most cases of acute sinusitis don't need treatment because they are caused by cold viruses. Self-care techniques are usually the only treatment needed to speed recovery and ease symptoms.
Treatments to relieve symptoms
Your doctor may recommend treatments to help relieve sinusitis symptoms, including:
- Saline nasal spray, which you spray into your nose several times a day to rinse your nasal passages.
- Nasal corticosteroids. These nasal sprays help prevent and treat inflammation. Examples include fluticasone (Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), budesonide (Rhinocort Aqua), triamcinolone (Nasacort AQ) and beclomethasone (Beconase AQ).
- Decongestants. These medications are available in over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription liquids, tablets and nasal sprays. OTC oral decongestants include Sudafed, Actifed and Drixoral. Nasal sprays include phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) and oxymetazoline (Afrin). These medications are generally taken for only a few days at most. Otherwise they can cause the return of more severe congestion (rebound congestion).
- Over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Because of the risk of Reye's syndrome—a potentially life-threatening illness — never give aspirin to children.
Prevention
Take these steps to reduce your risk of getting acute sinusitis:
- Avoid upper respiratory infections. Minimize contact with people who have colds. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially before your meals.
- Carefully manage your allergies. Work with your doctor to keep symptoms under control.
- Avoid cigarette smoke and polluted air. Tobacco smoke and other pollutants can irritate and inflame your lungs and nasal passages.
- Use a humidifier. If the air in your home is dry, such as it is if you have forced-air heat, adding moisture to the air may help prevent sinusitis. Be sure the humidifier stays clean and free of mold with regular, thorough cleaning.
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