“Ahhhhhh I can’t bear this pain” said Sunitha (30) (name has been changed) holding her forehead. She was been suffering with complaints of nasal congestion and headache. Symptoms include pain in the forehead or between the eyes, toothache, feeling of fullness in the mid-face, stuffy nose, and congestion. The symptoms concluded she was suffering with sinusities.
What is sinusities
Sinusities is inflammation or infection, of the paranasal sinuses – the frontal, ethmoid, maxillary, and sphenoid sinuses. These are hollow air spaces within the bones surrounding the nose, which produces mucous.
Causes :-
Sinusities is often caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungus. It may also result of an allergic or autoimmune reaction. Sinus infection may be caused by anything that interferes with airflow into the sinuses and the drainage of mucus out of the sinuses.
Classification :-
Sinusities is classified by the sinus cavity it affects :-
1. Frontal sinusitis :- pain or pressure in the frontal sinus cavity, located behind and above the eyes, with headache.
2. Ethmoid sinusitis :- Pain or pressure behind the eyes, with headache
3. Maxillary sinusitis :- Pain or pressure in the maxillary, or check area – e.g., toothache and headache.
4. Spenoid sinusitis :- pain, or pressure, behind the eyes, this may be related to the crown area of the head.
Types according to time span of the problem :-
1. Acute sinus infection :- being of less than 30 days duration.
2. Subacute sinus infection :- as being over 1 months duration
3. Chronic sinus infection :- as being greater than 3 months duration.
Symptoms :-
Sneezing, a running nose, blockage of one or both nostrils, headache, and pressure around the head, eyes and face signify sinusities. The face is often sensitive to touch, but may not always be swollen
When the sinuses get blocked, it creates a moist environment; this provides the “fertile soil” for infection and causes symptoms, such as headache, which worsens when bending forwards, including mild-to-moderate fever and fatigue. Other symptoms may include a post nasal drip, or mucous drainage, at the back of the throat.
Diagnosis :- Sinus infection is most often diagnosed based on a history and examination made by a doctor. An x-ray of the paranasal sinuses and CT scan can confirm the diagnosis.
Self help :-
• Hydrate well, this helps remove and dilute some of the mucous causing sinus ‘heaviness’ and pain.
• Steam inhalation helps ease the sinus distress. This should be done 2-4 times a day ( for about 10 miutes each time)
• A nasal wash using warm salt water helps to cleanse the sinuses. Do not use table salt, use pure salt or sea salt
• Rest to ensure speedy recovery
• Avoid exposure to smoke and pollutions
• While sleeping, keep your head elevated- this helps drain the sinuses.
• Apply a warm cloth to your face frequently, this helps to relieve congestion.
Homeopathic treatment :-
Conventional sinusitis treatments include anti-histamines and decongestants like Sudafed and Allegra. These medications provide temporary relief from Sinusitis but do not cure Sinusitis. In some cases surgery or drainage is recommended. Chronic sinusitis can be treated and controlled better with Homeopathy. It not only relieves the acute symptoms of congestion; it also improves the body’s resistance to the precipitating factors. This resistance is a result of improved immune response and the body’s ability to defend itself against seasonal or climatic changes, allergens and bacterial infections.