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Acute sinusitis
There are over the counter medicines that can relieve some of the symptoms associated with sinusitis. i.e. headaches, pressure, fatigue and pain. Usually these are a combination of some kind of antihistamine along with decongestant or pain reliever. Seeing a doctor will usually result in a prescription for antibiotics and a recommended rest. Furthermore, there have been studies that have concluded allergy testing results in detection of inhaled allergens that lead to inflammation which can trigger sinusitis.
Therapeutic measures range from the medicinal to the traditional and may include nasal irrigation or jala neti using a warm saline solution, analgesics (such as aspirin, paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen), hot drinks including tea and chicken soup, inhaling steam, over-the-counter decongestants and nasal sprays, and getting plenty of rest. If sinusitis doesn't improve within 48 hours, or is causing significant pain, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics or nasal steroids.
Chronic sinusitis
Simple measures
Nasal irrigation and flush promotes sinus cavity health, and patients with chronic sinusitis including symptoms of facial pain, headache, halitosis, cough, anterior rhinorrhea (watery discharge) and nasal congestion found nasal irrigation to be "just as effective at treating these symptoms as the drug therapies." In other studies, "daily hypertonic saline nasal irrigation improves sinus-related quality of life, decreases symptoms, and decreases medication use in patients with frequent sinusitis," and is "recommended as an effective adjunctive treatment of chronic sinonasal symptoms." and irrigation is recommended as an "effective adjunctive treatment of chronic sinonasal symptoms."
Commonly patients get a viral infection then a bacterial sinus infection, take an antibiotic and are well. Then in some weeks, they get another infection. The usual reason is failure of the nasal cilia to return to normal function. Normally the nasal cilia beat at 15 pulses / second and this action moves bacteria, pollen, toxins out of the nose. When this function fails, the cilia slow, and the mucus is no longer moved out. Then new bacteria multiply and another infection takes place. During and after a sinus infection it is important to take steps to restore cilia function. These include tea- green or black, with or without caffeine, chicken soup, singing low tone "ooooommmm", and irrigation.[citation needed] The advantage of pulsatile irrigation is that in addition to active removal of thick mucus and contents, the rate of pulsation is such as to encourage the cilia to return to normal speed. The pulsation of the saline stream passing through the nose acts somewhat like a massage to encourage more circulation to the nasal membranes.[citation needed] Products such as biofilm, major basic protein and resistant bacteria may be removed as well.
Medical approaches
For chronic or recurring sinusitis, referral to an otolaryngologist may be indicated for more specialist assessment and treatment, which may include nasal surgery.
A relatively recent advance in the treatment of sinusitis is a type of surgery called FESS - functional endoscopic sinus surgery, whereby normal clearance from the sinuses is restored by removing the anatomical and pathological obstructive variations that predispose to sinusitis. This replaces prior open techniques requiring facial or oral incisions and refocuses the technique to the natural openings of the sinuses instead of promoting drainage by gravity, the idea upon which the less effective Caldwell-Luc surgery was based.
Another recently developed treatment is Balloon Sinuplasty™. This method, similar to balloon angioplasty used to "unclog" arteries of the heart, utilizes balloons in an attempt to expand the openings of the sinuses in a less invasive manner. Its final role in the treatment of sinus disease is still under debate but appears promising.
Based on the recent theories on the role that fungus may play in the development of chronic sinusitis, newer medical therapies include topical nasal applications of antifungal agents. Much of the original research indicating fungus took place at the Mayo Clinic and they have since patented this treatment option. Although there are some licensing battles taking place over these drugs as a result of the patent, they are currently available for other uses and therefore can be compounded by pharmacies or even by the patient.
Other approaches
Phage therapy: Since the discovery of spontaneous bacterial lysis (from bacteriophages) by Frederick Twort and by Felix d'Herelle, phage therapy (treatment with bacterial viruses) has been used extensively with miscellaneous bacterial infections in the areas of otolaryngology, stomatology, ophthalmology, dermatology, pediatrics, gynecology, surgery (especially against wound infections), urology, and pulmonology. Treatment with phages was developed in the Soviet Union in parallel to the western development of antibiotics. Currently phage therapy for chronic Sinusitis is available at the Phage Therapy Center, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, or in Poland.
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Important notice:
The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other
qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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