Individuals with chronic rhinosinusitis often experience several uncomfortable symptoms, which include sinus discharge, pain, and swelling for at least 12 weeks. The condition may also include bad breath, cough, and fatigue. While the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis are the same as that of acute rhinosinusitis, the symptoms do not quickly respond to standard treatments and are not necessarily the result of a cold, but are instead the result of a more serious infection or a nasal blockage such as deviated septum or polyps.
One of the most significant symptoms of rhinosinusitis is the discharge of thick yellow or green mucus, which may either emerge from the nose or collect in the throat. This mucus is distinguished from that produced by a standard runny nose produced by a simple cold or allergies, which is often thin, runny, and clear. If this mucus does collect in the throat, the individual with chronic rhinosinusitis may experience throat irritation, coughing, and even be sick to his stomach. This mucus can also cause coughing, which may be worse at night while the affected individual is lying down and trying to sleep. This can result in the sufferer having difficulty sleeping as he keeps waking up to cough and clear his throat.
The affected sinuses will often become swollen and tender to the touch. This can cause facial pain, particularly around the nose and eyes, and some swelling. Eventually, this pain may be experienced as a headache, earache, or toothache. In addition to the pain, the stuffy nose can cause many sufferers to have difficulty breathing. They may also find that their sense of taste and smell has diminished as a result. Eventually, the person with chronic rhinosinusitis may feel more and more run down and sick over time.
While all these symptoms are unpleasant, in acute or short-term rhinosinusitis they will go away on their own or after a course of treatment. Chronic rhinosinusitis does not rapidly resolve itself, however, and can hang on for months. In such cases, medical and even surgical treatment may be necessary to treat the condition. In most cases, doctors will begin their treatment by trying to keep the nasal cavities open with home saline irrigation treatments. If these don't work, the patient may be offered prescription corticosteroid sprays. If the condition is caused by polyps or a problem with the nose itself, surgery may be the only effective treatment for the condition.