Acute sinusitis

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Acute Sinusitis

Acute sinusitis (pronounced: a-kyoot sy-nuh-sy-tis), also known as acute rhinosinusitis, is a short-term inflammation of the sinuses. The sinuses are air-filled cavities around the nasal passages. Inflammation in these areas can cause symptoms such as a stuffy nose, pain, and tenderness around the face.

Etymology

The term "acute sinusitis" is derived from the Latin word "acutus" meaning "sharp" or "severe", and the Greek word "sinusitis" which is a combination of "sinus" meaning "bend, fold, curve" and "-itis" denoting inflammation.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of acute sinusitis include:

  • Nasal congestion and difficulty breathing through the nose
  • Pain, tenderness, swelling and pressure around the eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead
  • Reduced sense of smell and taste
  • Cough, which may be worse at night
  • Fever
  • Bad breath (halitosis)
  • Fatigue
  • Dental pain

Causes

Acute sinusitis is most often caused by the common cold. Other triggers include allergies, bacterial and fungal infections.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of acute sinusitis usually involves a physical examination, including a look at the throat and nasal passages, and possibly X-rays or a CT scan.

Treatment

Treatment for acute sinusitis depends on the cause. It may include saline nasal spray, nasal corticosteroids, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers, and in some cases, antibiotics.

Prevention

Prevention strategies include avoiding triggers such as allergens and irritants, and practicing good hygiene to prevent infection.

See also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski