- How to treat chronic sinusitis
- Home treatment options
- Treatment for childhood sinusitis
- Care during treatment for sinusitis
- Signs of improvement
- Signs of worsening
Treatment for acute sinusitis is usually done with medication to relieve the main symptoms caused by inflammation, prescribed by the general practitioner or ENT, however some homemade measures such as nasal washing with water and salt or saline, or steam inhalations can help reduce the symptoms and discomfort of the disease.
Thus, treatment for sinusitis usually includes the use of remedies such as:
- Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen, for example, to relieve headache and facial bones, and to reduce inflammation of the sinuses; Nasal sprays such as Fluticasone or Mometasona, for example, under the guidance of the doctor, which serve to reduce the inflammation of the sinuses and relieve nasal congestion, runny nose, itching and sneezing; Oral corticosteroids such as Prednisone, under medical indication and prescription, to treat sinus inflammation; Antibiotics, such as Amoxicillin or Azithromycin, for example, are recommended by the doctor only for the treatment of bacterial sinusitis, that is, when it is caused by an infection by bacteria; Nasal decongestants contain Naphazoline, Oxymetazoline or Tetrahydrozoline, such as Sorine, for example, help to improve symptoms, but should be done with caution, for less than 3 weeks, as they cause rebound and dependency.
When sinusitis has an allergic cause, such as after episodes of dust allergy, for example, the doctor may prescribe antiallergic remedies such as Loratadine or Cetirizine, to treat sinus inflammation triggered by a dust allergy.
In addition, it is important to avoid antibiotics when there is no indication of bacterial sinusitis, as the unnecessary use of these drugs can lead to resistance of bacteria, which can cause chronic and difficult to treat sinusitis. To better differentiate each type of sinusitis, check for sinus symptoms.
How to treat chronic sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis is one that lasts more than 12 weeks, usually caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics or by other causes such as allergies that are difficult to control, fungi or other rarer situations, such as deficiency of immunity or changes in the drainage of the secretion of sinuses, as in cystic fibrosis, for example.
Treatment for chronic sinusitis is prolonged, lasting 3 or 4 weeks, and may include the use of antibiotics, oral corticosteroids or nasal spray, as well as nebulizers with filtered water or saline to relieve nasal congestion.
In cases where people with chronic sinusitis do not improve with medications, surgery may be indicated by an otorhinolaryngologist to try to solve the problem. This surgery consists of opening the drainage holes of the sinuses, facilitating the drainage of mucus retained in the sinuses, or correcting deviation of the nose septum, improving the symptoms of sinusitis.
Learn more about how it is done, risks and recovery from sinus surgery.
Home treatment options
Some home treatment options may help supplement the treatment, but they are not a substitute for doctor's advice. A great option is the nasal wash with water and salt, as it facilitates the removal of secretions, leaving the airways free, reducing pain and nasal congestion. Here's how to make this saline solution for sinusitis.
Another natural remedy for sinusitis is inhalation of steam from medicinal plants, such as eucalyptus or orange peels, as they have expectorant properties. To make these inhalations, you must put 1 drop of eucalyptus essential oil or the peel of 1 orange in a pot, together with 1 liter of water, and let it boil. Then put out the fire and inhale the steam, when it is warm, to avoid injury.
Treatment for childhood sinusitis
The treatment of childhood sinusitis should also be done according to its cause and the symptoms of each child, using anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and, if necessary, antibiotics that should be prescribed by the pediatrician according to age. and the child's weight.
In addition to medicines, a great solution is to do nasal washes with saline or water and salt, as well as nebulizations with saline, to facilitate the discharge of secretions and relieve inflammation of the sinuses and some symptoms such as runny nose and nasal congestion.. See how to nebulize sinusitis by watching this video:
Care during treatment for sinusitis
During treatment for sinusitis, it is important to adopt some precautions such as:
- Drink about 1.5 to 2 liters of water a day; Avoid going to places with cigarette smoke or with the air conditioning on; Avoid cleaning the house until sinusitis passes; Avoid being in places or handling objects with a lot of dust.
In addition, if you are in a cold place, it is recommended to protect your mouth and nose with a scarf.
Signs of improvement
Signs of improvement in sinusitis include decreased runny nose, nasal congestion, headache and pain in the bones of the face.
Signs of worsening
Signs of worsening sinusitis include increased runny nose, nasal congestion, headache and pain in the bones of the face. In these cases, it is important to return to the doctor to reassess the symptoms and consider the possibility of changing or increasing the dose of the medications.
