Sinuses are air-filled spaces on the forehead, cheeks and around the eyes in order to reduce the weight of our skull. They have channels connecting these cavities to the nasal cavity. Through these channels, they are connected to the nose.
They produce a secretion we call mucus from the glands that cover their inner surface. This secretion is produced continuously in a certain amount and density and is transported to our nasal region by the oscillating movement of the cells that carry the structures we call saliva on them.
The secretion we call mucus is a protective secretion. The dust adhered to it holds harmful structures such as bacteria, allergens, viruses, and this secretion coming into our nose is swallowed and broken down in the stomach.
The condition we call sinusitis describes the inflammation of these cavities. Before, there is a blockage of the channels connecting the sinuses to the nasal cavity due to allergies, infections, chemicals, cigarettes and cold air. The sinus cannot be ventilated and the mucus produced in it begins to accumulate. A suitable breeding environment for bacteria occurs and inflammatory currents occur.
-colds
-allergies (dust, pollen and)
-nasal bone curvature
-weak immune system
We can briefly summarize the causes of sinusitis as follows.
Acute sinusitis:
-postnasal drip
-dark, yellow, green discharge out of the nose
pressure and headache in the face area, especially around the forehead and eyes
– halitosis
-cough
-fatigue reluctance depressive state
-fire
symptoms such as lasting 7-10 days. If the symptoms last for 3 months or more, we can talk about chronic sinusitis.
In the case of acute sinusitis, short-term antibiotic therapy is sufficient. Sinusitis is not contagious. But before that, there is the common cold period, which is mostly caused by viruses, and this period is contagious.
If the symptoms do not improve with medical treatment, surgical treatment should be considered. Untreated sinusitis can cause serious problems such as meningitis, soft tissue infections around the eyes (orbital cellulitis, abscess) as a result of the spread of the infection to neighboring organs.
Chronic nasal discharge is also a problem for the lungs and a condition called sinobronchitis may develop.
In surgical treatment, it is aimed to open clogged sinus channels and clean inflamed tissues by entering through the nose with special instruments called endoscopes.
It is a procedure performed with general anesthesia. The postoperative period is less painful and comfortable for the patient. The duration of the operation varies according to the pathology of the patient, between 1-3 hours.
Recently, it is possible to open clogged channels with the method we call balloon sinoplasty. It is a minimally invasive successful method. The same logic was applied based on the principle of opening the clogged vessel in the heart with a balloon.
First, the lighted catheter is directed through the nose to reach the clogged canal area. At this point, the balloon is inflated at high pressure and the channel is opened. The sinus is washed with a special antibiotic mixture through the opened canal.
Usually, no buffer is placed after the procedure.
For surgical success, if the patient has allergies, they should be treated and followed, and smoking should be stopped. Both play a large role in post-surgical recurrences.
Sinusitis in Children
Sinusitis is also common in children due to problems such as weak immune systems, allergies and adenoids. Especially bad breath and persistent cough should be considered among the causes.
First of all, medical treatment and adenoidectomy in resistant cases can be planned.