Sinusitis Specialist

What is sinusitis?

Sinusitis is an infection in the sinuses of your face. The sinuses are empty spaces behind the bones of your face, in and around your nose.

Sinuses create mucus, a fluid that moisturizes the inside of your nose. Mucus helps to protect you from dust, dirt, pollutants, and microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. Sinusitis develops when infection sets in and causes the tissues lining the sinuses to swell.

This swelling leads to a feeling of painful pressure in your face that can become severe. You may also have symptoms such as:

• Nasal congestion
• A cough
• Pain in your ears
• Reduced sense of smell
• Fever
• Bad breath
• Fatigue
• Dental pain

There are several types of sinusitis. Acute sinusitis develops quickly and lasts 2-4 weeks, and you may get a thick green or yellow discharge from your nose. 

Subacute sinusitis goes on for up to 12 weeks, and chronic sinusitis lasts 12 weeks or more. You could also have recurrent sinusitis that flares several times each year.

Why would I get sinusitis?

Sinusitis very often sets in after a bout of flu or a cold. The infection causes nasal swelling and may lead to blocked nasal drainage ducts.

You're more likely to get sinusitis if you have narrow sinuses because of structural abnormalities like a deviated septum or benign growths called nasal polyps in your nose. A disease or medication that compromises your immune system, allergies, and environmental pollution can also increase your likelihood of getting sinusitis.

How is sinusitis treated?

Uncomplicated sinusitis can benefit from saline (salt-water) nasal flushes that you buy over-the-counter. Warm compresses and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help ease pain and reduce swelling.

You can also get over-the-counter decongestants, but you should use these with caution. They may help relieve stuffiness, but they might make your condition worse if you continue with them for more than three days.

Your provider at Desert Cities Allergy & Otolaryngology may need to prescribe medication for more persistent or severe cases of sinusitis. Depending on the cause of your sinusitis, these medications may include:

• Antibiotics
• Antifungals
• Antihistamines
• Steroids
• Immunoglobulin
• Immunotherapy for allergy-induced sinusitis

If other treatments aren't helping to clear your sinusitis, the Desert Cities Allergy & Otolaryngology team can perform a procedure called balloon sinuplasty.

This minimally invasive surgery involves inflating a small medical balloon in your sinuses that flattens the swollen tissues. Balloon sinuplasty is a more comfortable, simpler option than surgical removal of the swollen tissue.

If the pain of sinusitis affects you, call Desert Cities Allergy & Otolaryngology today or book an appointment online.