- How to differentiate each type of sinusitis
- 1. Viral sinusitis
- 2. Allergic sinusitis
- 3. Bacterial sinusitis
- 4. Fungal sinusitis
- How the diagnosis is made
- What to do in case of sinusitis
Symptoms of sinusitis, which can also be called rhinosinusitis, happen when there is an inflammation of the sinus mucosa, which are structures around the nasal cavities. In this disease, it is common to have pain in the region of the face, nasal discharge and headache, although the symptoms may vary slightly according to the cause of the disease and the general health and sensitivity of each person.
In general, sinusitis is suspected when there are 2 or more of these symptoms:
- Pain in the region of the face, especially in the regions of the cheekbones, around the nose and around the eyes; Headache or facial pain that worsens when lowering the head or lying down; Runny nose and congestion, which can be white, yellowish or greenish; Cough, especially at bedtime; Fever above 38ºC; Bad breath, which worsens as other symptoms become more intense.
In the case of babies or young children, to know if there is infantile sinusitis, one must be aware of the presence of nasal secretions accompanied by signs such as irritability, fever, drowsiness and difficulty in breastfeeding, even for foods that she usually likes.
How to differentiate each type of sinusitis
The inflammation that causes sinusitis has several causes, such as:
1. Viral sinusitis
It happens in the great majority of times, in about 80% of the cases, due to a simple cold, and it appears in people with symptoms of runny nose, usually transparent or yellowish, but that can also be greenish.
This type of sinusitis causes milder or more bearable symptoms and, when there is a fever, it does not usually exceed 38ºC. In addition, viral sinusitis may be accompanied by other symptoms of viral infection, such as sore throat, conjunctivitis, sneezing and a blocked nose.
2. Allergic sinusitis
The symptoms of allergic sinusitis are similar to those of viral sinusitis, however, it happens in people who have had a recent crisis of allergic rhinitis, or who have been exposed to situations that usually cause sneezing and allergies in some people, such as intense cold, dry environment, stored clothes or old books, for example.
It is common for people who have an allergy attack to have itchy nose and throat, frequent sneezing and red eyes.
3. Bacterial sinusitis
Sinusitis caused by a bacterial infection occurs in only 2% of cases of this disease, and is usually suspected when there is fever above 38.5ºC, severe pain in the face and purulent discharge from the nose and throat, or when symptoms, even if mild, they persist for more than 10 days.
4. Fungal sinusitis
Fungal sinusitis is usually present in cases of people who have persistent sinusitis, which does not improve with treatment and with symptoms that drag on for a long time. In these cases, there may be a symptom only located in one region of the face, and it usually does not cause other symptoms such as discharge from the nose and fever.
The differentiation of causes is made by the doctor after clinical evaluation and physical examination, however, as they are similar, it can be difficult to identify the exact cause.
There are also other, rarer causes, such as tumors, polyps, blows or irritations by chemicals, which should be suspected by the doctor in specific situations for these cases.
How the diagnosis is made
To diagnose sinusitis, it is only necessary to have a clinical evaluation by a general practitioner or ENT doctor. Tests such as blood tests, X-rays and tomography are not necessary, but can be useful in some cases where there is doubt about the diagnosis or the cause of sinusitis. Learn more about the tests that can be done to confirm sinusitis.
According to the duration of the infection, sinusitis can be divided into:
- Acute, when it lasts up to 4 weeks; Subacute, when it lasts between 4 and 12 weeks; Chronic, when the duration is longer than 12 weeks, with microorganisms resistant to treatment, which can last for several years.
Acute sinusitis is the most common type, however subacute or chronic sinusitis can occur in cases of people with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, due to repeated and incorrect use of this type of medicine, or after periods of hospitalization or surgery, for example.
Chronic sinusitis can also occur in people who have a tendency to an accumulation of secretion in the sinuses, due to changes in the region's mucosa or certain diseases that can thicken mucus, such as cystic fibrosis.
What to do in case of sinusitis
In the presence of symptoms that indicate sinusitis, which are accompanied by fever, purulent discharge from the nose, and severe pain in the face, one should seek the assistance of the general practitioner or ENT, who will recommend the appropriate treatment for the disease.
Generally, if there are only cold symptoms or symptoms that improve with care at home within 7 to 10 days, the use of medications to relieve symptoms, such as pain relievers, anti-inflammatories or corticosteroids, is recommended, as it is probably of a viral or allergic sinusitis. Check out some recipes for natural sinus remedies that can help relieve symptoms.
However, if the symptoms are intense, with the presence of fever, or that do not improve in 10 days, the use of antibiotics, such as Amoxicillin, indicated by the doctor, may be necessary. Find out what are the main treatment options for sinusitis.
