Your normal and balanced world turns topsy-turvy when Sinusitis hits you. Sinus infection, or Sinusitis, is caused when tiny air pockets situated around the bones of the nose get inflamed.

Unfortunately, any person can get affected by Sinusitis.

The symptoms include:

Stuffy nose
Runny nose
Facial pain
Headache
Mucus dripping down the throat
Sore throat
Bad breath
Cough

Acute symptoms may include severe headaches or facial pain. It is well advised to consult a doctor if the above happens. Also if your symptoms get worse after initially improving or lasts more than 10 days, consult a doctor almost immediately.

Distinguishing between a common cold and a sinusitis?

If it’s a cold, you may find yourself close to a tissue box for several days. Most of the time, colds get better on their own in 10 days or less. Sinus infections on the other hand are harder to get rid of. A virus, bacteria or even an allergy can lead to a sinus infection.

A Sinus Infection

The sinuses produce thin mucus that drains out of the roads of the nose. This drainage aids to keep the nose clean and free of bacteria. Normally filled with air, the Sinuses can get blocked and filled with fluid. When such a thing happens, bacteria can grow and cause an infection (bacterial sinusitis). This is also called rhinosinusitis. The name is quite apt since “rhino” means “nose.” Different types of Sinusitis include Acute bacterial sinusitis, Chronic sinusitis, Subacute sinusitis and Recurrent acute sinusitis. 

Who gets Sinusitis?

A Sinus infection is applicable to anyone. However, people with nasal allergies, asthma, nasal polyps and abnormal nose structures are more susceptible to Sinusitis. Smoking can also increase how often you get sinus infections. 

Find out yourself what you have: Chronic or Acute!

Acute sinusitis only persists for a short period. An acute infection is usually part of a cold or other respiratory illness and can only last up to less than four weeks.

Common Sinusitis Symptoms in detail

Pain located in your sinuses. Pain is the most common symptom in Sinusitis. There are several sinuses located above and below your eye, as well as behind the nose. A sinus infection can make any one of these hurt. You may feel pain in your forehead, on either of your nose, between your eyes, or even in your upper jaws and teeth.This may lead to a headache.

Nasal discharge

This discharge comes from your infected sinuses and drain into your nasal passages.

Nasal congestion

The infection can cause swelling in your sinuses and nasal passages. Because of nasal congestion, your voice may sound “stuffy.”

Headaches

The relentless pressure and swelling in your sinuses can give you symptoms of a headache. Sinus headaches are often at their maximum in the morning because fluids have been collecting all night long.

Sinusitis and its Treatments

It is absolutely possible to treat a sinus infection using home remedies, such as taking OTC medications, trying nasal irrigation, and applying warm compresses to the eye. Getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated are also essential whilst the body gets through the healing phase. If people have symptoms of a sinus infection for much longer than 7–10 days, they should see the doctor for treatment.

It is always a good idea to get a second expert opinion on the matter. 

There are a number of treatments that you can utilize for the appropriate situation.

Antibiotics

This is the standard treatment for a Bacterial Sinus Infection. The dosage is usually taken from 3 to 28 days, depending on the type of antibiotic used. Antibiotics help to eradicate a sinus infection by fighting the bacteria that cause it.
But overuse and abuse of Antibiotics for minorly symptomatic sinus infections are not recommended, as it causes a major increase in antibiotics resistance. It is always recommended to get a second expert opinion on the case.

Nasal Decongestant Sprays

Tropical nasal decongestants can be really useful if used for no more than three to four days. They facilitate the flow of drainage from the sinuses by shrinking the swollen nasal passages. 
It is better advised to take the consult of the expert doctor to prevent a Rebound phenomenon.

Antihistamines

While contracting a Sinus infection due to an allergic reaction, antihistamines help a whole lot by blocking the inflammation caused by the reaction.
This way they can help fight the symptoms of allergies and altogether its by-products, in this case, Sinusitis.

Tropical Nasal Corticosteroids

These address the biggest problem there is, which is inflammation and swelling in the nasal and sinus openings. They are effective in shrinking and preventing the return of nasal polyps.

Nasal Saline Washes

These rinses can help clear thickened secretions from the nasal passages.

Surgery

If all the drug therapies have failed, the last resort would be surgery. Anatomical defects are the most frequent target of surgery. Sinus surgery is done under either local or general anesthesia, and patients often can go home on the same day.

Acute sinusitis mostly goes away in the span of one to two weeks with proper care and medication. 
Chronic sinusitis, on the other hand, is more severe and may require consulting a specialist or having long-term treatment to address the reason for constant infections. Many treatments and procedures already exist for both acute and chronic cases. Even if you experience multiple acute episodes or chronic sinusitis, seeing a doctor or specialist can greatly improve your outlook after these infections. 

Is Sinusitis Contagious?

To tackle this common question that we get, we need to better understand how the transmission occurs.
When fluid or mucus is trapped in the sinuses, germs have the chance to grow. This can cause a Sinus Infection. Common causes of sinus infections include:

Bacteria
Viruses
Fungi
Nasal tumors
Nasal polyps
Allergies
Deviated septum

The contagious one, of these transmission modes, is a Viral flu or cold. Viruses engender most sinus infections. If a virus is the root cause of your sinus infection, then it can be contagious. The spread of the virus to another human does not guarantee a Sinus Infection. In most cases, they would just be left with a cold. 
What started as a cold, may convert into a Sinus Infection, but this doesn’t always happen.

If you have a Sinus Infection, take safeguards to prevent the spread of the virus. Wash your hands at regular intervals and remember to sneeze and cough into your elbow instead of your hands. If possible, avoid being in crowded areas to limit the number of people that could be exposed to the virus.
Often a sinus infection can be treated with rest, home remedies, and OTC treatments (Over-the-counter), but any serious or prolonged condition should be reviewed by a doctor specialized in the matter.

How Long Is It Contagious?

If a virus is to blame, you may have been contagious days prior you got the Sinus Infection.
Mostly viruses can be spread for just a few days, but occasionally you could pass it on for a week or more.
So it is better to take precautions to  prevent further spread. It is better advised to seek the help of a second opinion expert on ascertaining the type of transmission.

How Is Sinusitis Spread?

You can get it the same way you get cold and flu, that is, by breathing it in or passing it from your hands to your mouth after you were in contact with anything. Viruses can spread through the air after someone who is sick sneezes or coughs. They also can be passed on when someone shakes hands with someone who is sick or touches a handle or doorknob or anything else the sick person has touched.

Take necessary precautions and even consult the doctor for the best remedy. 

Our doctor, Dr. Ahmad Al Amadi, is one of the best ENT specialists the city has to offer and has extensive experience in treating sinusitis. Rest assured majority of the cases will not need any type of surgery and is treatable with medicine or therapy. By getting an expert second opinion from the best ENT expert in Dubai, you can be at peace with the fact that most of the cases of Sinus Infections, don’t need Surgery.

We are there for you at all times and all you need to do is to register and send your query through our eSehati app, which is available in PlayStore and AppStore.