What is Rhinosinusitis?

Rhinosinusitis is an infection in the sinus cavities, openings near the nose on a person's face. The condition can either be acute, meaning it lasts for only a short period of time and then clears up, or chronic, meaning it recurs for longer than three months. Depending on the cause and severity of the infection, it can be treated with antibiotics, a saline wash, or surgery.

The symptoms of acute rhinosinusitis usually follow a cold. Typically, a person will have congestion and trouble breathing along with nasal discharge and post-nasal drip. The discharge is usually a thick, yellow-green mucous. Other common symptoms of rhinosinusitis include a cough, fever, and tiredness. The sense of the smell diminishes, and a person may have bad breath. A headache is another common symptom.

Usually, the symptoms are much worse for a case of acute rhinosinusitis than they are for a chronic case. Someone with a chronic case may feel much more tired, though. A fever is typically not present in chronic cases.

Rhinosinusitis can be caused by a fungus, virus, or bacteria. People are more prone to sinus infections if they have had a cold or allergies. Mucus produced by the cold or an allergic reaction can block the sinuses and create an ideal spot for germs to grow. In some cases, a growth on the sinuses can also lead to an infection, as can a deviated nasal septum or a broken nose.

A weakened immune system, caused by diseases such as HIV or by treatments for cancer, can increase someone's risk of rhinosinusitis, as his body cannot fight infection as well as it should. Chronic respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can increase a person's chances of getting a sinus infection. Diseases that damage the fine hairs in the nasal passages, or cilia, can also lead to infection of the sinuses.

To determine if a patient has rhinosinusitis, a doctor may simply shine a light in a patient's nose looking for inflamed sinus cavities or growths on the sinuses. In some cases, a doctor may insert an endoscope into a patient's nasal passages to get a clear picture of them. A CT or MRI may also be used to diagnose the infection.

Antibiotics will only effectively treat an infection caused by bacteria and usually won't help chronic sinusitis. Corticosteroids may help reduce swelling in the sinuses and the size of any growths or polyps. If the infection is caused by a deviated septum or a large growth, surgery to repair the septum or reduce the growth will usually clear up the sinusitis.