Sinusitis: symptoms, Types, Diagnosis, management

Sinusitis

Inflammation of sinus

Types:

Acute and Chronic.

A. Acute sinusitis:

Acute inflammation of the one or more sinuses.

Etiology:

i)       It develops as a result of upper respiratory tract infections particularly viral infections.

ii)    Obstruction of the Para nasal sinuses leads to secretion of sinuses and infection.

Types:

Frontal sinusitis and  Maxillary sinusitis.

Signs and symptoms:

i)       Pressure, pain over sinus, area.

ii)    Purulent nasal secretion.

iii)  Maxillary sinusitis  will cause  pain over the eyebrows.

iv)  Frontal sinusitis  often cause pain over  eyebrows.

Diagnosis:

i)       History collection and  physical examination.

ii)    Sinus x-ray studies.

Management:

i)       Antibiotics  as prescribed.

ii)    Oral and topical decongestion (Afrin and otvivin) may be prescribed.

iii)  Head mist and saline irrigation also may be effective for opening blocked passages.

Nursing Management:

i)       Steam inhalation.

ii)    Increasing fluid intake.

iii)  Applying local  heat (hot wet packs).

B. Chronic Sinusitis:

Chronic sinusitis usually is caused by chronic nasal obstruction due to discharge and edema of the nasal mucous membrane.

Signs and symptoms:

i)       Chronic patient discharge.

ii)    A chronic cough.

iii)  Chronic dull sinus, headache that is present on awakening, fatigue and nasal stuffiness.

Management:

i)       Treatment of chronic sinusitis may be surgical.

ii)    Removal of nasal deformities such as deviated, nasal septum hypertrophied turbinate bone or nasal polyps that are obstructing the sinus opening.

iii)  Sinus irrigation may be done to ensure better drainage.

iv)  Increasing fluid intake and applying local heat.