Your sinuses are pockets filled with air located inside of your head. You have sinuses in your forehead, between your eyes, behind your eyes, and on either side of your nose. Your sinuses make mucous, which drains out of your nose and helps clear out bacteria.
Your sinuses are lined with tissue. When this tissue undergoes inflammation and swells up, it is known as sinusitis. This can happen because of an infection, allergies, or other factors. This condition can clear up within a couple of weeks (acute sinusitis) or linger for three months or more (chronic sinusitis).
Sinusitis often leads to:
The symptoms of sinusitis may overlap with those of a cold or other respiratory infections. However, cold symptoms usually gradually get worse and then better over the course of a couple of days. Sinusitis symptoms often last for 10 days or more, or start to get better and then worsen.
Sinusitis is often caused by allergies to pollen, dust, mould, or other factors. It can also result from colds, ongoing infections, or growths in your nose or sinuses (nasal polyps). You may be more likely to have sinusitis if you have problems with the way your nose or sinuses are shaped, such as a deviated septum, in which the cartilage between your nasal passages is crooked.
These factors may create swelling, cause your sinuses to make more mucous, or prevent mucous from draining out of the sinuses. If fluid collects in the sinuses, bacteria may begin to grow, leading to an infection.
You are more likely to have sinusitis if you:
Children who go to daycare or use pacifiers are also more likely to experience sinusitis.
A doctor can diagnose sinusitis during a physical exam. During the exam, they may ask about your symptoms and look in your ears, throat, and nose.
Chronic sinusitis that won’t go away may require additional tests. Your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. They may order an imaging test such as a CT scan, perform a nasopharyngeal culture to examine the mucous from your sinuses, or recommend allergy testing.
Try home remedies to help clear out your sinuses, including:
For those with more serious cases of sinusitis — for example, those dealing with severe swelling or high fevers, or children with ongoing symptoms — doctors may prescribe antibiotics or stronger decongestants to kill bacteria in the sinuses.
Allergy medication or allergy shots may help prevent future cases of sinusitis. Steroids may also be an option for those with allergies or nasal polyps. Avoiding cigarette smoke and frequently washing your hands can also help you avoid sinusitis triggers.
If you have frequent or long-lasting sinus infections, your doctor may recommend surgery to help open up your sinuses and remove extra fluid that is trapped there. Surgery can treat chronic sinusitis as well as prevent future cases of acute sinusitis.