The sinuses are small, air filled spaces inside the cheekbones and forehead. They make some mucus which drains into the nose through small channels.

Sinusitis is an inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses. Sinuses normally are filled with air but can become blocked and filled with fluid, resulting in bacterial growth, leading to infection. Conditions that cause sinus blockage include the common cold, allergic rhinitis (swelling of the lining of the nose), nasal polyps (small growths in the lining of the nose), or deviated septum (a shift in the nasal cavity). Allergies also can cause swelling and poor drainage of the sinuses.

With acute sinusitis, it may be difficult to breathe through your nose. The area around your eyes and face may feel swollen, and you may have throbbing facial pain or a headache.

Acute sinusitis is most often caused by the common cold. Other triggers include bacteria, allergies and fungal infections. Treatment of acute sinusitis depends on the cause. In most cases, home remedies are all that's needed. However, persistent sinusitis can lead to serious infections and other complications. Sinusitis that lasts more than eight weeks, or keeps coming back, is known as chronic sinusitis.

Signs & Symptoms

Acute sinusitis usually begins suddenly, often after a common cold. Symptoms that commonly occur include:

• Thick nasal or postnasal drainage
• Drainage of a thick, yellow or greenish discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat
• Discomfort in the cheeks, forehead or around the eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Headache
• Slight fever
• Bad breath
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Reduced sense of smell and taste
• Cough, which may be worse at night
• Aching in your upper jaw and teeth

Diagnosis of Acute Sinusitis

Diagnosis is often made by observing symptoms and reviewing the patient's history of URI. Several methods are there, to help screen for acute sinusitis

• Nasal Endoscopy: Nasal endoscopy is a procedure that involves using a rigid, lighted instrument to examine the nasal passages and postnasal area with magnification. A topical anesthetic is sprayed into the nose and a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) is passed through the nostril. Endoscope allows to visually inspect the inside of the sinuses.
• Imaging Studies: Images taken using computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can show details of the sinuses and nasal area. These may identify a deep inflammation or physical obstruction that's difficult to detect using an endoscope.
• Nasal and Sinus Cultures: Laboratory tests are generally unnecessary for diagnosing acute sinusitis. However, in cases in which the condition fails to respond to treatment or is progressing, tissue cultures may help pinpoint the cause, such as identifying a bacterial cause.
• An Allergy Test: If your doctor suspects that the condition may be brought on by allergies, an allergy skin test may be recommended. A skin test is safe and quick, and can help pinpoint the allergen that's responsible for your nasal flare-ups.

Treatment of Acute Sinusitis

Often, no treatment is needed for acute sinusities because they are caused by cold viruses. Like with colds, the immune system usually clears the virus, and symptoms usually go within a week or so. Even if the infection is caused by bacteria, the immune system will usually clear it away. Self-care techniques are usually the only treatment needed to speed recovery and ease symptoms. However, treatments to help relieve sinusitis symptoms include:

• Saline Nasal Spray: Which you spray into your nose several times a day to rinse your nasal passages.
• Nasal Corticosteroids: These nasal sprays help prevent and treat inflammation. Examples include fluticasone (Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), budesonide (Rhinocort Aqua), triamcinolone (Nasacort AQ) and beclomethasone (Beconase AQ).
• Decongestants: These medications are available in over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription liquids, tablets and nasal sprays. These medications are generally taken for only a few days at most. You can buy these from pharmacies. They may briefly relieve a blocked nose. However, they are not thought to shorten the duration of acute sinusitis. You should not use a decongestant spray or drops for more than 5-7 days at a time. If they are used longer than this, they may cause a worse 'rebound' congestion in the nose.
• Pain Relievers: Pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Because of the risk of Reye's syndrome - a potentially life-threatening illness - never give aspirin to children.
• Antibiotics: Your doctor is not likely to prescribe an antibiotic for a mild bout of acute sinusitis. This is because acute sinusitis usually clears on its own, and there is a risk of side-effects from antibiotics. Antibiotics do not kill viruses, but kill bacteria (which sometimes cause a more severe sinusitis). A course of antibiotics may be prescribed if symptoms are severe, or if symptoms do not settle within 7-10 days.
• Sinus Surgery: Irritation and swelling from an allergy can narrow the opening of the sinus and block mucus movement. If antibiotics and medicines are not effective in opening sinuses, surgery may be necessary. Surgery also may be necessary if there is a structural abnormality such as nasal polyps. Turbinate reduction may be performed to permanently shrink the swollen membranes of the nose.

Prevention from Acute Sinusitis

Routinely using nasal lavage can prevent mucus from building up, which provides a friendly environment for bacteria and viruses. Staying well hydrated by drinking plenty of water daily to keep mucus thin is also a good preventive measure. In addition, minimized contact with people who have colds, washing hands frequently with soap and water especially before meals, avoiding cigarette smoke and polluted air are also better ways of the prevention from acute sinusitis. Tobacco smoke and other pollutants can irritate and inflame your lungs and nasal passages.

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