Sinusitis

What causes sinusitis?

Your sinuses are a system of hollow cavities in your skull that contain mucus to help warm, moisten, and filter the air you breathe. Occasionally, something prevents this mucus from draining, which causes bacteria to grow and results in a bacterial or viral infection.

Viral infections usually clear up by themselves, but if you have a bacterial infection, you’ll need to see your provider, who will prescribe a course of antibiotics.

What are the symptoms of sinusitis?

The early symptoms of sinusitis are very similar to those of the common cold and include:

• Stuffy or runny nose
• Postnasal drip
• Headache
• Painful pressure around lymph nodes
• Fatigue

Seek medical attention if your symptoms don’t go away by themselves or if you develop any of the following:

• Fever
• Thick yellow-green mucus
• Confusion
• Dizziness or nausea

If your symptoms keep coming back or don’t respond to treatment, you could have chronic sinusitis and will need to see your West Shore ENT & Allergy provider as soon as possible.

How do you diagnose sinusitis?

At West Shore ENT & Allergy, your provider does allergy testing to determine the cause of your sinusitis. In severe or chronic cases, your doctor uses an endoscope to examine your sinus passages and look for blockages. During this exam, your provider uses a thin, flexible tube fixed with a camera and light to see the inside of your nasal cavity and sinuses.

If your specialist can’t detect any abnormalities during these exams, they will order imaging tests like an MRI or CAT scan for a closer examination of your sinuses.

How is sinusitis treated?

Your provider suggests treatments for your particular case of sinusitis based on what is causing it. West Shore ENT & Allergy offers a number of treatments for sinusitis, including:

Antibiotics

Your doctor prescribes a course of antibiotics if your sinusitis is because of a bacterial infection.

Immunotherapy for allergies

If allergies are causing your sinusitis, your doctor provides immunotherapy through allergy shots or sublingual drops to reduce your body’s reaction to the allergen.

Surgery

West Shore ENT & Allergy offers a number of minimally invasive surgeries to treat sinusitis that isn’t responding to other therapies. During this procedure, your doctor places a tiny balloon near your blocked sinuses and inflates it to restructure your sinus openings.

Paul Lomeo, MD, was the first doctor to provide this service to patients in Michigan after it was approved in 2005 by the US Food and Drug Administration. Today he and the rest of the team at West Shore ENT & Allergy are proud to continue to offer this innovative treatment.

If you have nasal congestion, facial pressure, and a cold that won’t go away, call the office or use the online scheduling tool to make an appointment today.