Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses is usually called sinusitis. There are four types of sinuses: maxillary, frontal, main and latticed. The maxillary (wedge-shaped) sinuses are the largest, reaching a volume of 30 cubic centimeters. They are located in the depth of the wedge-shaped area. The shape of the maxillary sinus resembles a triangular pyramid. The most important part of it is the inner wall of the nose. There is a hole in the sinus for the nasal cavity. The bottom of the maxillary sinus is located close to the roots of the upper and lower teeth.Sometimes the roots can be located even inside the cavity when they are covered only by the mucous membrane. Inflammation of the maxillary sinuses is called sinusitis.

Causes and types

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the wedge–shaped sinuses of the nose, mainly occurs as a complication of infectious diseases such as acute rhinitis, influenza, measles, scarlet fever, etc. Another common cause is inflammation of the root of the four teeth of the upper jaw (odontogenic sinusitis). Since acute sinusitis occurs even against the background of acute respiratory viral infection (ARI), it is dangerous to carry the disease on your feet. If the inflammatory process develops, as a rule, inflammation of several foci occurs — polysinusitis.
Symptoms of a prolonged cold include pain in the wedge-shaped area, a feeling of tension and pressure, as well as pain that spreads to the forehead, crown and temple and eventually covers half of the face. So, if the runny nose lasts for more than 7 days and along with the pain there is a strong discharge from the nose, this indicates the beginning of inflammation in the sinuses.
Therefore, the “common cold” should not be ignored. A cold can harm health even with a mild course, as it can turn into a chronic form, sinusitis and lead to other complications.

Symptoms

Nasal breathing is disturbed, discharge begins, lacrimation appears, fear of light, violation of the sense of smell. In the first days, the temperature rises, the general condition worsens and tremors appear. Sometimes there is swelling and soreness of the face and lower eyelids on the side of sinusitis. Many patients experience severe pain at the same time during the day.

Diagnostics

To confirm the diagnosis, an X-ray or computed tomography is required. X-rays show darkening in the sinuses. In addition, a control puncture of the maxillary sinus is performed under local anesthesia with a special needle. At the same time, the nature of its content is determined.

Treatment

In the early stages, physiotherapy and antibiotics can prevent the formation of pus. Along with antibiotics, antihistamines, anticoagulants and sprays are prescribed. Also, if pus is detected in the sinus during a control puncture, opening and cleaning the pus will speed up recovery and relieve the patient of pain.
But it should be borne in mind that vasoconstrictor drugs can be used only in the acute period, no more than 5-7 days. Their long-term use can lead to drug dependence, drug-induced colds, certain types of vascular paralysis or atrophy of the nasal mucosa. As a result, the nose is constantly blocked, and it is often impossible to get out of this situation without surgery. Therefore, the use of nasal drops should be taken as intended.
Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, in turn, can stimulate the development of diseases such as pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, etc. The proximity of these foci to the brain and eye sockets can lead to the involvement of the meninges and thrombosis of large cerebral vessels. Osteomyelitis of the skull bones, inflammation of the brain and meninges, abscesses and empyema are among the most frightening and serious prognoses. In this case, the prognosis of the disease becomes more serious, and in this case surgical treatment is inevitable. Such operations are generally referred to as sinus operations.