There are several common diseases with relatively similar symptoms: sinusitis (including sinusitis), pansinusitis and influenza. Although pansinusitis is the least common among the listed, it is necessary to clearly understand the causes and symptoms of this ailment in order to distinguish it from other diseases in an emergency.
Sinuses, sinusitis and pansinusitis. What is it?
The sinuses are air-filled cavities located above, below and behind the eyes. All of them are connected to the nasal cavity and are also called paranasal sinuses (sinuses). There are sinuses of the ethmoid bone, maxillary, frontal and sphenoid. These sinuses are arranged in pairs.
The maxillary cavities are located under the cheekbones, the frontal cavities are above the eyes in the forehead, the sphenoid cavities are respectively in the sphenoid bones, and the ethmoid sinuses are an empty space between the nasal bone and the eyes.
Sinusitis is inflammation and irritation in one or more sinuses. The disease is considered quite common, pansinusitis is much less common. What it is? It's inflammation andirritation simultaneously in all nasal sinuses. Pansinusitis is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment.
Reasons
Pansinusitis is usually caused by a bacterial, viral or fungal infection or an allergy. All sinuses simultaneously become infected and inflamed due to a strong decrease in immunity. This condition is called "acute pansinusitis", but in some cases the disease can become chronic. Inflammation in the latter case lasts for several months and even years, if no measures are taken to treat the disease.
Pathogenic microorganisms that cause disease enter the sinuses through the nose. Pansinusitis is often preceded by an upper respiratory tract infection. In addition, the cause of infection may be:
- bathing in dirty water;
- spread of infection due to pericoronitis;
- sinus irritation due to exposure to dust, air pollution, tobacco smoking, etc.
Chronic pansinusitis is often caused by a deviated septum or polyps.
Symptoms
Since the disease is a common sinusitis that has spread to all sinuses, the symptoms of both ailments are approximately the same. These include:
- increased body temperature;
- headache;
- thick yellow and/or green nasal discharge;
- nasal congestion;
- facial swelling;
- cough;
- toothache;
- ear pain;
- sore throat;
- feeling tired;
- bad breath.
Pain and discomfort caused by pansinusitis are much more intense than inflammation of one sinus.
The disease is complicated if the infection spreads to the brain due to its anatomical proximity to the paranasal sinuses.
Treatment
Acute pansinusitis should not be underestimated - it is necessary to begin treatment of the disease as soon as possible after the first symptoms are detected. To make an accurate diagnosis, your doctor will order a series of tests, including x-ray imaging using computed tomography, MRI, or x-rays of the sinuses. Identification and definition of a pathogenic microorganism will help a specialist prescribe optimal antibiotic preparations.
Recurrent pansinusitis - what is it? This is a chronic disease caused by a polyp in the nasal region or a deviated septum. Treatment in this case involves a surgical operation, in which the polyp is removed or the shape of the nasal septum is corrected. The purpose of the operation is to restore the normal outflow of mucus from the paranasal sinuses.
When a doctor diagnoses pansinusitis, treatment with prescribed drugs is often supplemented with the following recommendations.
- When inflammation of the sinuses is harmful to stay in cold rooms with dry air for a long time.
- Home should be maintained at 40-50% humidity, especially inbedroom.
- Swimming and air travel should be avoided in acute pansinusitis.
Home remedies
Because the disease in question is much more serious than ordinary sinusitis, it must first be treated with antibiotics or antifungal drugs. However, along with traditional treatment, you can use some home methods to combat the disease
- Steam inhalation is an effective way to relieve sinus congestion. Steam promotes the outflow of thick mucus from inflamed cavities.
- It is important to follow the increase in immunity. Eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and other he althy foods that are rich in vitamins and essential nutrients.
- You need to drink plenty of water as it thins the mucus. Hot herbal teas are also helpful.
- Rinse the nose with saline is effective in treating pansinusitis. What it is? This is a saline solution that can be purchased at a pharmacy or prepared at home: just dilute a quarter teaspoon of s alt in a glass of water.
