Recurrent and chronic inflammation of the paranasal sinuses
Sinusitis is a condition that often escapes the consciousness of the patient because it is usually a complication of the infection masked with annoying symptoms of a cold or other viral infection that accompanies and which caused them. Acute sinusitis, when it is incorrectly treated (or left untreated), can become chronic and last for many months.
The gulfs are air-filled double spaces
The paranasal sinuses are even - i.e. double and consist of 2 frontal sinuses, 2 maxillary sinuses, labyrinth (sieve cells) and 2 sphenoid sinuses near the ear. Sinus spaces arranged symmetrically around the nose and eyes. As a rule, the sinuses should have good contact with the nasal cavity. In a sense, they are an extension of the nasal cavities.
Diagram of paranasal sinuses
The frontal sinus - are located above the eyes, while the others are deeper behind the base of the nose. (profile - right)
1- bay, 2 - labyrinth (sieve cells),
3 - maxillary bay, 4 - wedge bay. The largest volumes are the maxillary sinuses located on both sides of the nose. Their capacity is about 15 ml, the upper wall is the bottom of the orbita, the anterolateral - lower wall borders on the upper teeth.
NAVIGATING INFLAMMATION OF ZATON
Recurrences of acute sinusitis
Acute sinusitis may have a recurrent course. Recurrent inflammation is usually a transitional stage for chronic sinusitis.
Causes of recurrent disease and persistent chronic inflammation:
- nasal patency disorders, e.g. curvature of the nasal septum;
- allergy,
- immunological disorders,
- damage and dysfunction of the so-called mucocutaneous apparatus of epithelial lining of the nasal mucosa and sinuses
- bad condition of the palatine tonsils, especially the pharyngeal tonsils (in children)
- otitis
- a polluted living and working environment
- smoking
- unhealthy lifestyle (lack of exercise, poor nutrition, excess of drugs, drugs, etc.)
- hormonal disorders.
Specialist research in determining the causes of chronic or recurrent sinusitis
Rating anatomical deformation, curvature of nasal septum, the presence of polyps, etc. Precise information on the state of nasal endoscopy provides the nose. The assessment also requires the condition of the tonsils, especially the pharyngeal tonsil and the otoscopic image (the possibility of the coexistence of ear inflammation, most often of the nature of exudative inflammation).
Prophylaxis against relapse and persistence of chronic inflammation
It is important that the patient breathe clean air free of all kinds of contaminants, especially tobacco smoke. The air should be adequately warmed (about 20oC) and moistened (over 70%).
Recurrences of sinusitis in children
In children, the typical cause of recurrence of sinusitis and chronic form of the disease is adenoid hypertrophy, and tonsils. Hyperplant hyperplasia inhibits the passage of air through the nose, and also makes it difficult to remove mucous secretions infected with viruses and bacteria.
CHROMIUM INFLAMMATION
When is sinusitis chronic?
The chronic inflammation occurs when symptoms last longer than three months, and sickness changes in the construction of the lining of the sinuses take permanent.
What symptoms does chronic sinusitis differ from acute?
1. Less severe are: inflammation, swelling of the mucosa. Hence, the headache symptoms are less severe but prolonged. The patient feels constantly not pain but pressure or spreading at the base of the nose.
2. Chronic inflammation often is characterized by grunting and coughing, sometimes dry-coughing attacks.The cause is the chronicity of the inflammatory process in the sinuses and the constantly flowing discharge from the nose to the throat. It may cause recurrent bronchitis, sometimes throat pain.
effectsconstantly flowing discharge from the nose to the throat?
The secretion may be mucous, purulent or mucopurulent. In cases of accompanying allergic rhinitis it is also a watery secretion. The abundant secretion flowing down the throat causes not only nuisance grunting and coughing - but especially in children and people with allergies a set of sinus-bronchial conditions.
The effects of chronic nasal obstruction
Nasal obstruction - although not as severe as in acute sinusitis - forces the patient to breathe frequently through the mouth, the air is less purified, less moisturized and less heated. This contributes to a sore throat, e.g. due to drying of the mucous membrane of the throat. It may contribute to the development of the so-called chronic throat catarrh and induce olfactory disorders.
Characteristic symptoms of chronic inflammation in children
In children, we find snoring, apnea, mouth breathing, nosebleeds, lack of appetite, bad smell from the mouth. Sometimes: so-called pain without a cause: arms and legs, abdominal pain, etc. One can also notice disorders of the nervous system - irritability, constant fatigue, sometimes bedwetting and sleep disorders. Bacterial superinfection of the pharyngeal lymphatic system may lead to the hypertrophy of the tonsils and the tendency to fall on angina, otitis media, hearing disorders are not rare.
Complications of sinusitis
Complications of sinusitis occur once in about 50 cases. They happen after acute inflammation of the sinuses, but they are more frequent in chronic inflammation. They include:
- skull bones,
- orbital complications
- intracranial complications.
Are sinusitis complications dangerous to health?
Yes, most of them are a big health threat. Orbital complications are usually a consequence of frontal or ethmoid sinusitis. These complications are very dangerous because they threaten permanent impairment of visual acuity or even blindness. The most common complication is inflammatory swelling of the eyelids, which is sometimes the first stage in the development of life-threatening complications, mainly intracranial. Inflammatory intracranial complications (empyema, meningitis, etc.) are rare, but are characterized by high mortality. Therefore, their slightest suspicion requires a quick laryngological and neurochirugic consultation. Bone inflammation is usually a complication of acute frontal sinusitis.
Ed. Edward Ozga Michalski, MA
Literature:
1. Sinusitis; Dr hab. n. med. Józef Jordan, prof. Medical Academy in Gdańsk, Head of the Otolaryngological Department of the Municipal Hospital in Gdynia; PharmaNet.pl - art. Internet. E-mail: [email protected]
2. Acute sinusitis in children - Dr. med. Teresa Oleniacz; Health Service No. 3-4 (2998-2999); 2001 Department of Audiology, Phoniatrics and Laryngology IP-CZD Warsaw
3. "Laryngological complications of viral infections of the upper respiratory tract"; Dr n. Med. Urszula Samolińska-Zawisza - Central Clinical Hospital of the Medical Academy in Warsaw; Internet
5. Internet: www.zdrowezatoki
6. Child from A to Z - medical guide - Dr. Miriam Stoppard, ed. Athena 1986
