Asinus infectionis one of the most common complications that can occur after a cold or allergy attack.
If your acute symptoms have continued past four weeks, it is defined assubacute sinusitis.
The symptoms ofrecurrent sinusitisare the same as for acute sinusitis.
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The symptoms resolve completely between episodes.
Only about 2% of acute sinus infections are bacterial.
This is the kind ofsinus infection that may need an antibiotic.
The sinuses are adjacent to important structures, including the eyes and brain.
A bacterial sinus infection has an extremely small possibility of spreading to these areas.
When to Seek Emergency Care
The following signs and symptoms can be sparked by a serious infection.
Complications
Your sense of smell can be reduced, or you may lose it completely with sinusitis.
While the loss of smell is often temporary, you’re able to have permanent alterations or loss.
The infection may involve the soft tissues (cellulitis) or form an abscess in the eye socket.
Serious complications from acute bacterial sinusitis are rare: they’re only seen in about one in 1,000 cases.
This can lead to permanent vision impairment or blindness.
Acute or chronic invasive fungal sinusitis can also damage the structures of the eye and around the eye.
The signs of confusion, sleepiness, severe headache, or a stiff neck may point to this complication.
A jot down of cyst called a paranasal sinus mucocele can develop if you have chronic sinusitis.
It can grow and put pressure on the sinuses and nearby structures.
It may not be resolved by antibiotics or corticosteroids because it has formed a wall around itself.
It may need to be drained surgically.
A patient may have other sinus problems such asenlarged turbinates (concha bullosa)or adeviated septum.
Sinus surgery may be needed to remove the polyps or correct the problem to allow better sinus drainage.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be hard to tell based on symptoms.
Both types include symptoms such as facial pain, thick nasal congestion, and fever.
Your healthcare provider will look at how long you’ve been sick to help provide a diagnosis.
Treatmentdepends on what’s causing the sinus infection.
If it’s bacterial, your healthcare provider will likely prescribe an antibiotic to reset the infection.
For fungal sinus infections, treatment may include an anti-fungal medication or endoscopic surgery.
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