Chronic sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis is treated on the basis of whether there are polyps or not, but relief will be obtained by draining the retained mucus in the sinuses. Nasodren® helps you drain that retained mucus effectively and quickly with a 100% natural spray.
What is Chronic Sinusitis?
Chronic sinusitis (with or without polyps) is defined as an inflammation of the nose and paranasal sinuses characterized by two or more symptoms, one of which should be: nasal blockage / congestion or runny nose (anterior / posterior nasal drip, i.e. mucus in the throat), facial pain / pressure, and reduction or loss of smell.
Symptoms must persist for more than 12 weeks.
Nasal congestion
Runny nose
Facial pressure
Loss of smell
How is chronic sinusitis treated?
The main objective of any treatment, especially in chronic diseases, is to maintain clinical control of the symptoms associated with the pathology, which can be defined as a disease state in which the patient has no symptoms or the symptoms do not affect quality of life (QoL).
When medical treatment fails, surgery is used, which must meet the following criteria:
Create a sinus cavity that incorporates the natural ostium (the tube through which mucus drains).
Allow adequate sinus ventilation.
Facilitate mucociliary cleaning.
Facilitate the instillation of topical therapies.
If you have any questions about the treatment you are receiving or you need advice on acute sinusitis, we offer you a free e-health service where you can make an appointment with our doctor who is an expert in acute sinusitis, where with professionalism and medical rigour, we will help you to obtain effective treatment for this condition.
Ask for your appointment!
Most annoying symptoms
Nasal obstruction and altered sense of smell are the most severe and prevalent symptoms in patients with chronic sinusitis with polyps, while in chronic sinusitis without polyps, nasal obstruction is also the most severe symptom but is often accompanied by pain. facial, runny nose and smell alteration but less severe.
Nasal polyps are masses of abnormal but benign tissue of the nasal or paranasal mucous membrane. When they grow too large they can block the sinuses and cause sinusitis.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is suspected by these symptoms and is confirmed by endoscopy and Computed Tomography in which the specialist can see, for example, polyps, mucopurulent discharge, edema of the nasal and paranasal mucosa and changes in the paranasal sinuses or within the ostiomeatal complex (sinus drainage holes).
Chronic sinusitis is a major health problem with a general prevalence in the population of between 5.5% and 28%, leading to a huge cost to society in terms of consumption of medical care and loss of productivity.
Predisposing factors for chronic sinusitis
Secondary ciliary dyskinesia (malfunction of the cilia) is found in patients with this condition and is probably reversible, although recovery takes some time.
Allergic rhinitis predisposes the atopic individual (who overreacts to substances or environmental stimuli) to the development of this pathology. Both conditions share the same trend of increasing prevalence and are frequently associated.
A considerable overlap between asthma and nasal disorders confirms a close relationship between nasal disease and asthma, although their interrelationship is poorly understood.
Between 36-96% of people with sensitivity to aspirin have chronic sinusitis with polyps.
An immunocompromised state (low defenses) predisposes to chronic sinusitis.
Pregnancy and endocrine status are associated with a higher incidence of chronic sinusitis.
Chronic sinusitis is more common in smokers than non-smokers.
Sufferers of chronic sinusitis have several exacerbations per year, that is, they suffer a worsening of the intensity of the symptoms, often after treatment with corticosteroids and/or antibiotics.
Frequently asked questions about chronic sinusitis:
When is sinusitis considered chronic?
Chronic sinusitis (with or without nasal polyps) is defined as the presence of two or more symptoms, one of which should be nasal congestion or runny nose (or post-nasal drip, which is when the mucus drips into the back of the throat), with other symptoms being facial pain/pressure and reduction or loss of sense of smell. When these symptoms last more than 12 weeks it is called chronic sinusitis.
If I have chronic sinusitis, can I have exacerbations?
Yes. You can suffer from several exacerbations a year even if you already have chronic sinusitis, as they are usually caused by viral infections.In those cases, the exacerbations are defined as the worsening of the intensity of the symptoms, often after being treated with corticosteroids and/or antibiotics
Does smoking promote or worsen sinusitis?
Active and passive smoking predisposes both adults and children to sinusitis and worsens the symptoms of those who suffer from it. Smoking can even negate the improvement in sinus symptoms after surgery.
What are nasal polyps and how are they related to chronic sinusitis?
Chronic sinusitis has traditionally been classified into chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps and without nasal polyps.
A polyp is an inflammation of the lining of the nose with growth of abnormal but benign tissue. Many polyps do not cause symptoms but when they become very large they can block the tubes that carry mucus from the sinuses to the throat for elimination and cause symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose and loss of smell.
According to various studies throughout life, about 1% of the population develops nasal polyps.
I have polyps, should I have surgery?
When polyps cause symptoms, treatment is sought, which must first be medical and focused on reducing the size of the polyps, which is achieved in around 80% of cases.
When conservative treatment fails, polyps can be surgically removed although, unfortunately, in 30% to 50% of cases the polyps reappear after an average period of four years.
If I had acute sinusitis, am I more at risk for chronic sinusitis?
No, having an episode of acute sinusitis does not increase the chance of developing chronic sinusitis. Although in relation to the duration of the disease, sinusitis is classified as acute (less than 12 weeks) and chronic (more than 12 weeks), from the point of view of the cause (etiological), acute and chronic sinusitis are considered different diseases.
