Sinusitis and sinusitis: what is the difference, how the symptoms and treatment differ
The content of the article:
- What is the difference between acute sinusitis and sinusitis
- Diagnostics and treatment features
- Video
Sinusitis is an inflammation that occurs in the lining of one or more paranasal sinuses. The main sources of its development are viruses or bacteria. The disease can occur against the background of facial injuries, influenza, acute rhinitis and other pathologies of infectious origin.
If symptoms characteristic of sinusitis appear, consult with an ENT doctor.
The risk group includes patients with ARVI (acute respiratory viral infections), allergic rhinitis, curvature of the nasal septum, polypous growths in the air passages, congenital disorders of the anatomical structures of the nasal cavity.
You can suspect the development of the disease by the following symptoms:
- the appearance and gradual intensification of unpleasant sensations in the nasal cavity, the adjacent area, the bridge of the nose or above the eye;
- heaviness in the frontal or paranasal region, pain that increases in the late afternoon and increases with sudden head movements. Over time, it becomes more difficult for the patient to determine its localization, then a headache develops. With unilateral inflammation, pain is noted from the localization of the process;
- nasal congestion and shortness of breath (with little or no relief). Alternating congestion of either the right or the left half of the nose may be noted;
- nasal voice. Usually seen in cases of bilateral inflammation;
- a sore throat;
- frequent sneezing;
- clear (mucous), green, or yellow (purulent) nasal discharge. In view of the difficulty of outflow from the sinus, this symptom may not be noted with severe congestion;
- an increase in body temperature (up to 38 ° C or more) with an acute course of inflammation;
- general weakness, including fatigue, lack of appetite and sleep disturbance.
Sinusitis in children can be suspected in cases when, after a few days after the disappearance of the common cold, the body temperature rises and a thick discharge from the nasal cavity appears.
There are the following types of sinusitis:
- by the nature of the course: acute and chronic;
- in shape: productive - polyposis or parietal-hyperplastic; exudative - purulent, catarrhal or serous;
- by etiological factor: allergic, mixed, fungal, medicinal, bacterial, viral, traumatic;
- at the site of localization of inflammation: sphenoiditis, ethmoiditis, frontal sinusitis, sinusitis.
What is the difference between sinusitis and sinusitis? From the classification of sinusitis, it follows that sinusitis (maxillitis, maxillary sinusitis) is a type of sinusitis and is characterized by the localization of inflammation in the maxillary sinus.
Sinusitis can appear as a complication of scarlet fever, measles, flu, runny nose or other pathologies, as well as due to penetration of infection into the maxillary sinus through the blood or nasal cavity, through pathological processes in the periapical regions of the upper teeth. In children under the age of 4–5 years, it is usually not diagnosed, since their maxillary sinuses are not yet developed. Sinusitis occurs in children of all age groups, including newborns. This is another difference between sinusitis and sinusitis.
The main symptom indicating the presence of sinusitis is a pulling pain that occurs when the body bends forward. The rest of the signs of disease are very similar.
The following types of sinusitis are distinguished:
- by the prevalence of the process: left-sided, right-sided, bilateral;
- along the course of inflammation: acute, chronic, recurrent;
- by origin: viral, bacterial (including bacterial aerobic and bacterial anaerobic), allergic, fungal, mixed, perforated, traumatic, iatrogenic, endogenous (vasomotor, otogenic, odontogenic);
- by the form of pathology: catarrhal, exudative;
- by the nature of the discharge: purulent, slimy, serous;
- productive (parietal-hyperplastic, polyposis).
In the absence of timely treatment of sinusitis or sinusitis, complications may develop, including meningitis, otitis media, bronchitis and others.
What is the difference between acute sinusitis and sinusitis
In acute sinusitis, inflammation is associated with bacterial damage to the paranasal sinuses. Its main pathogens are pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae. Less commonly, staphylococci, streptococci and viruses lead to the development of the disease. In the acute course of the disease, exudative processes prevail.
Bacteria and viruses are the cause of sinusitis and sinusitis.
In the early stages, serous exudate is noted, then it becomes muco-serous, and if a bacterial infection is attached, it is purulent with a high number of detritus and leukocytes.
In addition to the localization of the inflammatory process, the difference between sinusitis and sinusitis in acute form lies in the symptoms. Most often, in acute maxillitis, there is difficulty in nasal breathing, mucopurulent nasal discharge, pain in the bridge of the nose and at the wings of the nose, swelling of the cheeks and eyelids on the side of the lesion, high body temperature. In acute sinusitis, patients complain of pain in the frontotemporal regions, difficulty in breathing, discharge from the nose and nasopharynx, and a disorder of smell.
According to the duration, sinusitis is diagnosed as acute when the pathology is up to 8 weeks old, sinusitis - from 1 to 3 weeks. Above these terms, the form of the disease is already considered chronic.
Diagnostics and treatment features
Diagnosis of sinusitis, including sinusitis, is carried out by collecting anamnesis data, clinical examination of the patient and studying the results of additional research methods - radiography, computed or magnetic resonance imaging, endoscopy.
Endoscopy is one of the most informative research methods for sinusitis
After confirming the diagnosis, the otolaryngologist individually selects the most effective treatment. First of all, it should be aimed at eliminating the infection, reducing the severity and duration of symptoms, and preventing complications.
Sinusitis therapy, including sinusitis, includes the use of broad-spectrum antibacterial agents, vasoconstrictor or antihistamines, rinsing the nasal cavity with antiseptics, inhalation. The agents used can be of various dosage forms - tablets, capsules, injection solutions, sprays or drops. If viruses have caused the disease, antibiotics are not used.
If there is a risk of complications, the affected sinus is opened
In the acute form of the disease, in case of ineffectiveness of conservative treatment or the development of complications, the sinus is opened:
- sphenoidal sinusitis (sphenoiditis): opening the sphenoid sinus through its anterior wall; for this, it is first necessary to remove the middle turbinate and posterior cells of the ethmoid labyrinth or the posterior part of the nasal septum;
- ethmoidal sinusitis (ethmoiditis): opening the cells of the ethmoid labyrinth by intranasal and extranasal methods;
- frontal sinusitis (frontal sinusitis): opening the frontal sinus;
- maxillary sinusitis (sinusitis): opening the maxillary sinus.
Along with the standard methods, during the treatment of sinusitis or sinusitis, it is recommended to quit smoking, drink plenty of fluids, humidify the air in the room, as well as observe the basic rules of a balanced diet. According to reviews, compliance with these rules in combination with complex therapy allows you to cure the disease as soon as possible.
Sinusitis, including sinusitis, with timely and proper treatment, leads to the development of complications in rare cases, with a protracted acute process, the prognosis is worse.
Video
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Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
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