Sinusitis is a common condition that results in the swelling or inflammation of the paranasal tissue in the sinuses. Sinusitis occurs when the sinuses become blocked as a result of infections caused by bacteria or viruses, autoimmune disorders, or allergies.
Symptoms of sinusitis include, but may not be limited to:
- Headaches
- Bad Breath
- Mouth or Teeth Pain
- Fatigue
- Cough or Congestion
- Loss of smell
Current estimates put the number of Americans suffering from sinusitis at as many as 37 million. Those people may be suffering from 4 different types of sinusitis that are defined by their length and duration.
- Acute Sinusitis – Symptoms lasting from 10 days to no more than 4 weeks.
- Subacute Sinusitis – Symptoms and inflammation that remain consistent for a minimum of 4 weeks and do not exceed 8 weeks.
- Chronic Sinusitis – Inflammation lasts in excess of 8 weeks
- Recurrent Sinusitis – Multiple recurrences of inflammation that occur throughout a year.
Acute sinusitis can often be treated with antibiotics and simple over-the-counter remedies, but chronic and recurrent sinusitis treatment may require minimally-invasive surgery including balloon sinuplasty, which has been utilized by our Board Certified Head and Neck Surgeons at our center.