Basic information to understand the sinuses

• The sinuses are air cavities located in the bones of the skull and face, and are covered with a mucous membrane such as the nose and pharynx; to secrete mucus that plays an important role in their function, and these sinuses are connected to the internal nasal cavity through small channels that open into specific openings.
  The sinuses consist of four groups as follows:
  The maxillary sinuses, which are located below the eyes inside the cheekbones, and are considered the largest among them.
  The frontal sinuses, which are located above the eyes inside the forehead bones.
  The ethmoid sinuses, which are located between the eyes inside the ethmoid bones.
  The sphenoid sinuses, which are located behind the nose deep inside the skull.
• The sinuses play several important roles that give them real importance, such as:
  They help – with the nose – in purifying, moisturizing and warming the air entering the lungs.
  They act as chambers that contribute to creating resonance and echo of the sound during speech.
  These cavities reduce the mass of the skull without affecting its connections and strength.
  These cavities contribute to absorbing head shocks; To help protect the brain and nervous organs.

Sinusitis

Incidence rate
Sinusitis is one of the most common health problems among the public; as 15-40 people will get sinusitis annually out of every thousand people!!

What are the causes of sinusitis?

• Due to the close connection between the nasal cavity and the sinuses, sinusitis is often accompanied by rhinitis as in cases of colds and influenza, it can be said that when cold symptoms persist for a long time or new symptoms appear, this means sinusitis as well.

Here are the most common causes of sinusitis

1. Viral infection:
   The most common cause of sinusitis is a viral infection, such as the common cold.

Viruses cause inflammation of the nasal mucosa and severe swelling, which can lead to blockage of the sinus drainage channels, leading to mucus accumulation and bacterial infection and inflammation of the sinus mucosa.

2. Bacterial infection:
   If the inflammation lasts for more than 10 days or the symptoms get worse, the cause may be a bacterial infection; because the accumulation of mucus provides an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria.
3. Allergies:
   Allergies to dust, pollen, or animal hair can cause inflammation in the sinuses due to hypersensitivity and swelling of the tissues.
4. Chronic sinusitis:
   It may be the result of ongoing problems such as a deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps, or chronic diseases such as allergic rhinitis.
5. Environmental pollution:
   Continuous exposure to polluted air or smoking can cause irritation of the mucous membranes in the sinuses.
6. Fungal infection:
   In rare cases, the cause may be a fungal infection, especially in people with weak immunity such as advanced diabetics.
7. Anatomical problems:
   Such as a deviated nasal septum or narrowing of the sinus drainage channels.
8. Other causes:
   Immune diseases such as vascular rhinitis.
   Dental infections that extend to the nearby sinuses, such as tooth decay, can spread to the maxillary sinuses.

What are the symptoms of sinusitis? Do symptoms differ depending on the type of group affected?

The general symptoms of sinusitis are:

1. Nasal congestion and blockage and difficulty breathing.
2. Heavy yellow or green nasal discharge.
3. Facial pain or pressure (especially around the nose, eyes, forehead, or cheeks).
4. Headache (may worsen when bending over and upon waking up in the morning).
5. Loss or weakness of sense of smell.
6. Fever (in cases of bacterial infection).
7. Feeling tired or exhausted.
8. Bad breath.
9. Cough (worse at night).

There are some symptoms that you can use to predict which of these sinus groups is affected, but symptoms can often overlap if the infection affects several different sinus groups…

The characteristic symptoms of sinusitis vary depending on the location of the sinus affected (maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, or sphenoid), depending on its location and the effect of the infection on the surrounding areas:

1. Maxillary sinusitis
   Pain and pressure in the cheeks and below the eyes.
   Pain that sometimes extends to the upper teeth (especially the molars).
   Increased pain when bending forward.

Frontal sinusitis
Pain and pressure in the forehead.
Headache, especially in the front of the head.
Increased pain when lying down or bending.
Forehead swelling in severe cases.

3. Ethmoid sinusitis
   Pain and pressure between the eyes.
   Pain behind the eyes with possible swelling around the eye.
   Sensitivity to light.
   A feeling of fullness or deep congestion in the nose.
4. Sphenoid sinusitis
   Pain and pressure deep in the head or behind the eyes.
   Pain that may extend to the ears or neck.

Severe and deep headache.

Double or blurred vision (in severe cases).

What is the treatment for sinusitis?

Treatment of sinusitis depends on the type of inflammation (acute, chronic, or recurrent) and its cause (bacterial, viral, allergic, or structural problems). Treatment can be divided into:

First: Home remedies:

1. Moisturizing: such as inhaling steam (from a bowl of warm water or while showering).
2. Washing the nose with saline solution: helps clean the nasal passages and remove secretions.
3. Drinking plenty of fluids: helps moisturize the mucus and relieve congestion.
4. Rest: reduce physical activity for a faster recovery.

Second: Drug treatments (as prescribed by the doctor):

1. Decongestants for nasal congestion:
   Sprays such as Oxymetazoline, but do not use them for more than 3 days to avoid getting used to them and worsening congestion after stopping their use.
   Oral medications such as pseudoephedrine.
2. Analgesics and antipyretics:
   To relieve headache and facial pain: paracetamol or ibuprofen.
3. Anticonvulsants