Sinusitis

Sinusitis

This is a broad term encompassing inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. The paranasal sinuses are air-filled cavities within the face (eg behind the forehead and behind the cheeks). These cavities can become inflamed, usually after a viral respiratory tract infection. This leads to symptoms such as a blocked nose, a temperature, headache or pain behind the cheeks. Sinusitis is common and usually resolves within 4 weeks without treatment.

Treatment

Immunocompetent patients do not usually need treatment for the disease as it is post-viral. Pharmacies can supply steroid nasal sprays to help with symptoms and, if it is an uncomplicated bacterial infection, they are able to treat with antibiotics. Any immunosuppressed person will need to be assessed by a clinician at the GP surgery.

Immunosuppresion

These patients are at higher risk of developing complications from sinusitis and we therefore need to identify these patients. Complications include the infection damaging the bone in the sinuses, allowing the infection to spread eg to the brain causing an abscess. They are also at higher risk of other organisms causing sinusitis eg fungal infection and not just inflammation post viral infection.