Maxillary sinusitis – causes, symptoms & therapy

One speaks of a maxillary sinus infection when the paranasal sinuses in the upper area of ​​the cheeks have become inflamed. There are cavities everywhere in the facial bones, which are lined with mucous membranes. When you have a cold , there is a risk that the mucus cannot drain properly. As a result, there is a risk of infection by bacteria.

Inflammation of the maxillary sinus is common. Most cases are acute, but maxillary sinusitis can also become chronic. While the ethmoid is particularly often affected in children, adults tend to suffer from maxillary sinusitis.

causes

There are several reasons that can lead to maxillary sinusitis. As a rule, a sinusitis is preceded by a cold that has not healed. The mucus from the nose could not drain, now it builds up and is colonized by bacteria . These bacteria cause inflammation in the maxillary sinus.Another cause is allergies . Again, too much mucus produced is not removed. A deviated nasal septum can also lead to a maxillary sinus infection. Sometimes it is the neighboring teeth that can be the cause of this superinfection. An inflamed tooth root can easily affect the maxillary sinus. Polyps in the nose can also trigger a maxillary sinus infection.

symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of maxillary sinusitis:

• Headache when bending over

• Sniffles

• exhaustion

• eye inflammation

• Fever

There is a clear sign of a maxillary sinus infection: an unusually long-lasting cold. Over time, other symptoms appear: headaches (especially when bending over), fatigue, and eye irritation. The cheeks below the eyes are sensitive to pressure and the sense of smell and taste are reduced.

The discharge from the nose has turned yellowish-green in color, it has become purulent. It is noticeable that the symptoms improve briefly with warmth, while hypothermia or a cold environment worsens the pain.

If the maxillary sinusitis is advanced, fever is also present. Since the pain in the area of ​​the cheeks occurs in the case of a maxillary sinus infection, it could be mistaken for a toothache . For this reason, going to the doctor is advisable.

Diagnose

Since the symptoms of a maxillary sinus infection are clear, everyone can make the diagnosis themselves. If the maxillary sinusitis is still in the early stages, you can try to get the disease to subside by resting, drinking a lot and taking hot steam baths. If the symptoms worsen, a doctor must be consulted.

Based on the descriptions, he will quickly make the diagnosis and initiate treatment of the maxillary sinusitis. The acute illness should be over after 30 days at the latest. Subacute bacterial maxillary sinusitis can also take 90 days to heal.

complications

An early detection of maxillary sinusitis usually does not lead to complications. However, if the disease remains untreated or is only insufficiently cured, the inflammation can spread to other parts of the body. This often results in chronic maxillary sinusitis. This in turn is associated with severe pain, a restricted sense of smell and, in the long term, damage to the maxillary sinuses. If the inflammation spreads to the teeth, serious diseases and inflammation of the mouth are the result.

In the worst case, inflammation of the frontal sinus or the paranasal sinuses follows – both associated with further complications. Spread to the eye or ear region results in impaired vision or hearing and cyst formation. Life-threatening blood poisoning rarely occurs . The surgical treatment of sinusitis is occasionally accompanied by bleeding, wound healing disorders and nerve injuries. The prescribed medication can cause side effects and allergic reactions. In addition, after repeated use of painkillers and nasal spray, addictive behavior and ultimately addiction can develop.

treatment and therapy

A maxillary sinus infection usually requires no other precautions than a common cold. Sufficient drinking should be taken into account, as should physical rest and bed rest. Hot steam baths allow mucus to drain more easily. Decongestant nasal sprays can speed up the healing of a maxillary sinus infection.

If the mucus lasts for an extremely long time, expectorant preparations should be taken, for example Sinupret, Soledum, ACC or Gelomyrto capsules. If the maxillary sinusitis does not go away with these measures or even worsens, a specialist must be consulted. If the bacterial inflammation is confirmed by the doctor, often only an antibiotic can help .

Appropriate medication should be taken to relieve pain and fever. In general, care should be taken to ensure that ventilation between the nose and ears always works. If an allergy is the cause of the maxillary sinusitis, antiallergic medication should be taken and further measures (desensitization, acupuncture ) to improve the allergic symptoms should be undertaken as soon as possible. Otherwise there is a risk that the maxillary sinus infection will become chronic.

Sometimes a minor surgical intervention helps if the maxillary sinusitis recurs several times. For example, nasal polyps should be removed and a crooked nasal septum corrected so that the maxillary sinus infection does not become a permanent problem.

prevention

A maxillary sinus infection can be prevented. So you should drink a lot and avoid hypothermia . So that a normal cold does not develop into a maxillary sinus infection, it is important that every cold is cured to the end. If the cold is stubborn, hot steam baths with chamomile will help.It is also advisable to pay attention to your diet. The largest lymphatic organ in humans is the intestine. If the intestine is weakened, the immune system is also weakened.

It has been proven that a poor diet high in fat and low in vitamins and fiber weakens the immune system. It is much easier for a common cold to develop into a maxillary sinus infection.