Article Medically Reviewed By:
Jay F. Piccirillo, MD
Associate Professor of Otolaryngology, Medicine, and Occupational Therapy Director, Clinical Outcomes Research Office Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO
Overview
What Is It?
Sinusitis is a term used to describe infection or inflammation of the sinuses.
Sinusitis, a term used to describe infection or inflammation of the sinuses, affected nearly 31 million Americans in 2006, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sometimes called "sinus attacks," sinusitis may be acute (lasting for four weeks or less); subacute (lasting for four to eight weeks); chronic (lasting for more than eight weeks—or for months or years); or recurrent (attacks return several times within one year).
Many people use the terms "sinus infection" and "cold" interchangeably. Most cases of acute sinusitis do follow the common cold, but a cold doesn't cause the symptoms of sinusitis. Rather, it often sets the stage for sinusitis to develop. Fungal infections, chronic inflammation of the nasal passages caused by allergies, asthma or other conditions, structural problems and a weakened immune system can also cause sinusitis.
Your sinuses comprise four pairs of hollow spaces in your face that surround your nose. The frontal sinuses are over your eyes; the maxillary sinuses are inside your cheekbones; the ethmoids are between your eyes, behind the bridge of your nose; and the sphenoids are behind your eyes.
Each sinus opens into the nose and is joined with the nasal passages by a continuous mucus membrane lining. This allows mucus and air to travel freely. You feel pain in your sinuses when that free travel is blocked.
Each sinus produces its own pain when infected. For example, if your maxillary sinuses are infected, your jaw and your teeth might hurt and your cheeks might be tender. Your nose might hurt or be stuffy or you could lose your sense of smell if your ethmoid sinuses are inflamed. Pain in your forehead or headache might indicate a problem with your frontal sinuses. Your sphenoid sinuses, which are the least frequently affected sinuses, can cause earaches, neck pain and a headache in the top of your head.
Most people with inflamed sinuses report having pain in several areas of the face, head or neck.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Typically, a cold lasts no more than seven to 14 days and goes away without treatment. However, when symptoms persist or don't respond to over-the-counter decongestants, this suggests that a bacterial infection has developed. Acute sinusitis can clear up on its own after several weeks. Antibiotictreatment is often used to decrease the duration and severity of sinusitis-associated symptoms. As with all medical conditions, proper diagnosis is important before starting treatment.
To diagnose sinusitis, a health care professional will typically take a medical history, exam...
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