Understanding Chronic Sinus Infection

When the mucosal lining of the sinuses remains constantly inflamed, the condition is known as chronic sinus infection. There is a natural healing mechanism in our body. If a sinus infection is mild, we seldom feel the severe symptoms of chronic sinusitis. When our immune system is not at its best and we suffer a mild sinus infection, the healing process is delayed and this worsens to acute sinusitis and thereafter, chronic sinusitis. Another term for chronic sinusitis is recurrent sinus infection. They mean the same thing.

Causes of Sinus Infections

Most sinus infections appear after you have suffered from a common cold, viral influenza or allergies. With these illnesses, the main culprit is nasal congestion.

Top 5 Chronic Sinus Infection Symptoms

1. Nasal obstruction. The causes of nasal congestion could be due to allergies related to certain food groups, pollens, fungi and other foreign matters. Nasal congestion can also be caused by nasal polyps and a deviated septum within the nose.

2. Nasal discharge. Nasal mucus discharge could be colored yellow or green in color indicating a possible bacterial infection. Foul-smelling discharge could mean bacterial infection of the maxillary sinuses arising from a dental problem.

3. Postnasal drip. On waking up in the morning, if a lot of mucus have collected overnight, it is one of the significant chronic sinus infection symptoms. It is also common to find a sudden mass of clear, sticky and thick mucus draining down the nasopharynx occasionally.

4. Coughing frequently. If a person has a persistent cough which does not go away with prescribed medication, sinusitis is suspected.

5. Eustachian tube dysfunction. Chronic sinusitis sufferers often suffer from the feeling that their ears are clogged up. This is caused by the sticky mucus obstructing the openings of the eustachian tubes. Sometimes, the eustachian tubes can become inflamed and producing abnormally thick mucus as well.

Chronic Sinus Infection Treatment

If there is no abnormality of the nose structure, then prescribing antibiotics to treat the bacterial sinus infection would be appropriate. Antibiotic which work against only a few types of bacteria are classified as narrow-spectrum antibiotics.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics, on the other hand, affect many types of bacteria. However, the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics presents the danger of promoting antibiotic resistance.

For chronic sinus infection treatment, the ENT specialists would favor the use of a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Avelox® (moxifloxacin) and Cedax® (Ceftibuten dihydrate) are highly recommended for sinus infection treatment.

Antihistamines and corticosteroids are also often prescribed to clear symptoms of allergy and any inflammation respectively.