Nose / Sinus

What is Sinusitis?

Sinusitis is an acute (sudden) or chronic bacterial infection of the sinus cavities that can result in symptoms of facial sinus pressure, headache, fever, thick yellow-green discharge, nasal congestion, and fatigue. Often sinus infections are treated with a combination of sinus rinsing and antibiotic treatments. Most of the time sinus infections are preceded by nasal congestion and blockage of the sinuses either due to a viral infection (cold), other infection, crooked (deviated) septum, or allergic rhinitis. Recurrent sinus infections (more than 3 infections over 12 months) often can be cured or treated by endoscopic sinus surgery with or without correction of a deviated septum.

Imaging of the sinus cavities is best performed with a CT scan of the nose and sinuses. This will help the doctor better determine the extent of your sinus infection as well as any other anatomical problems that might be contributing (ie. crooked septum, polyps, concha bullosa, cysts, etc).