Symptoms of sinusitis

Facial pain, nasal congestion or runny nose, headache, and poor sleep are common symptoms of sinusitis.

Sinuses are hollow cavities located inside the skull and face, filled with air and clean. When these cavities are infected, the lining of the nose and sinuses leads to accumulation and contain a lot of fluid and pus, causing blockage (sinus blockage) called sinus infection or sinusitis.

Sinusitis is divided into several levels: acute (sinusitis symptoms last less than 4 weeks), subacute (4-12 weeks) and chronic (lasts more than 12 weeks, recurs many times leading to edema and blockage of the sinus openings).

Common symptoms of sinusitis include white, yellow or slightly green nasal discharge, nasal congestion, facial heaviness, headache, fever, fatigue, tinnitus, cough... Patients may have bad breath, decreased sense of smell, taste, pain and swelling around the eyes, cheeks, nose, forehead.

MSc. Dr. Pham Thi Phuong, ENT Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that recognizing sinusitis through common symptoms helps patients be proactive and take early measures to improve.

Nasal congestion and runny nose are symptoms of sinusitis. Photo: Freepik — Nasal congestion and runny nose are symptoms of sinusitis. Photo: *Freepik*

The most common cause of sinusitis is a virus, the common cold. When you have a cold, the mucus becomes thick, sticky and difficult to drain, if not cleaned, it creates conditions for bacteria to grow, leading to infectious complications.

According to Dr. Phuong, anyone can get sinusitis. Factors that increase the likelihood of getting the disease include exposure to a smoky environment, abnormalities in the structure of the sinuses (nasal polyps, deviated septum, nasal turbinate hypertrophy...), allergic rhinitis, asthma, and sudden changes in pressure (diving).

Patients should drink plenty of water to thin mucus, wash their sinuses regularly as directed by their doctor, and use over-the-counter medications. Elevating the head when sleeping, applying a warm, damp towel to the face to relieve pain, and doing light exercise can also help improve the condition.

Patients should not perform activities that put pressure on the sinuses such as scuba diving, flying, exposure to allergens, dust, and cigarette smoke. Avoid alcohol and cold foods when suffering from sinusitis to prevent nasal congestion from getting worse.

Depending on the severity of the disease, the cause of the disease as well as the patient's wishes, the doctor can treat with drugs such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, mucolytic drugs, and decongestants. Surgery is indicated when chronic sinusitis symptoms recur repeatedly and medical treatment is ineffective.

Dr. Phuong said there are two surgical methods to treat sinusitis: endoscopic sinus surgery and open surgery. Of these, endoscopic sinus surgery is minimally invasive, does not require skin incisions, causes little bleeding, and allows patients to recover quickly.

Doctor Phuong noted that the weather near Tet tends to get colder, dust and pollen in the air also increase, patients need to wear masks when going out, wear warm scarves and earplugs when the weather is cold, and wash hands regularly. Using a humidifier in the house and cleaning it regularly helps prevent mold growth and sinusitis.

When symptoms persist, patients should see an ENT specialist for proper treatment to prevent dangerous complications.

Khanh Ngoc

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