Sinusitis
Sinusitis is an infection of the sinuses near the nose. These infections usually occur after a cold or after an allergic inflammation. There are three types of sinusitis:
- Acute sinusitis - occurs quickly and improves with the appropriate treatment
- Subacute sinusitis - does not improve with treatment initially, and lasts less than three months
- Chronic sinusitis - occurs with repeated acute infections or with previous infections that were inadequately treated. The symptoms last longer than three months.
What causes it?
Sometimes, a sinus infection happens after an upper respiratory infection (URI) or common cold. The URI causes inflammation of the nasal passages that can block the opening of the paranasal sinuses. When the flow of secretions from the sinuses is blocked, bacteria may begin to grow. This leads to a sinus infection, or sinusitis. Allergies can also lead to sinusitis because of the swelling of the nasal tissue and increased production of mucus. Other possible conditions that can block the normal flow of secretions out of the sinuses and can lead to sinusitis include the following:
- Abnormalities in the structure of the nose
- Enlarged adenoids
- Diving and swimming
- Infections from a tooth
- Trauma to the nose
- Foreign objects stuck in the nose
- Cleft palate
The most common bacteria that cause sinusitis include the following:
- Streptococcus pneumonia
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Moraxella catarrhalis