Treatment of Sinusitis
Overall, the eradication of acute sinusitis requires at least 10 days, while that of chronic sinusitis takes three weeks or more. Therapy covers these points:
- Fight bacterial infections with antibiotics, they should always be prescribed by your doctor.
- In support of previous cases and when there is viral infection, will relieve the obstruction of the sinus cavities with decongestants and corticosteroids (cortisone derivatives that reduce inflammation).
- It is helpful to use room humidifier and saline nasal (may be a formula obtained in the laboratory or purified sea water), they reduce congestion.
- It needs plenty of water to dilute the mucosa.
- In patients with allergic rhinitis is usually resorted to the combined use of decongestant and antihistamine (reduce the generation of histamine, a substance related to increased runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing). – The allergy can be improved with the use of vaccines that help the body react with less violence against dust, pollen, animal hair, etc.. They are prepared and dosed by an allergist.
- In severe cases of congestion can resort to surgery to improve sinus drainage and remove infected material (endoscopic sinus intervention).
- The deviated septum is corrected by a procedure called septoplasty, which acts exclusively on the bone structure without changing the outward appearance of the nose.
- When nasal polyps and infections often recur, the patient is advised to undergo surgery to permanently remove the bumps (endonasal polypectomy).
- The cases of a weakened immune system due to disease (diabetes, cancer, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) require special care to improve, and always shall be borne by the treating physician.
- Dental abscess or granuloma requires use of antibiotics, proper oral hygiene and, occasionally, surgery.
- Cystic fibrosis is a disease that to date has no cure, so that your therapy is based on prevention and treatment of pulmonary disease, good nutrition, physical activity and psychological support.
It is mentioned that the widespread use of antibiotics in fighting infections, serious complications of paranasal sinusitis have become rare, although they may be spread of infection to the bones of the face (osteomyelitis) or the tissues covering the brain (meningitis) and abscess (pus clusters) in different parts of the body. Avoid them by going to consultation with the otolaryngologist as symptoms appear.