Acute & Chronic Sinusitis
Premier Treatment Options For Sinus Infections
Bella Vista ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery provides premier acute and chronic sinusitis treatment in Thousand Oaks, CA. From a sinus infection to acute or chronic sinusitis, we offer our valued patients unparalleled treatment options at our state-of-the-art facility.
What Is Acute Sinusitis?
Acute sinusitis is a sinus cavity infection that doesn’t exceed 30 days duration. This type of sinusitis causes the sinuses – the spaces inside your nose – to become both inflamed and swollen. This inflammation and swelling interferes with mucus drainage and causes it to build up. Acute sinusitis can make breathing through the nose difficult. It can also cause facial pain and swelling or a headache. Most of the time, acute sinusitis is caused by the common cold and resolves within a week.
The Symptoms Of Acute Sinusitis
Acute sinusitis symptoms can range from a stuffy nose to a full-on fever. Below, we’ve listed the most common symptoms of acute sinusitis:
- Thick green or yellow discharge from the nose
- Dripping sensation down the back of your throat
- Nasal congestion that causes a stuffy nose
- Facial pressure, pain, or tenderness
- Foul taste in your mouth and bad breath
- Coughing, especially when you’re lying down
- Headaches that worsen when you bend down
- Reduced sense of smell and taste
- Aching in the teeth and ears
- Fatigue often accompanied by fever
What Is Chronic Sinusitis?
Chronic sinusitis is a long-lasting sinus cavity infection that can exceed 90 days duration. This type of sinusitis occurs when the sinuses remain inflamed and swollen for more than three months despite treatment. Chronic sinusitis is a common condition that interferes with mucus draining normally. This type of sinusitis can make your nose stuffy, breathing through your nose more difficult, and the area around your eyes both swollen and tender. Chronic sinusitis is mostly brought on by an infection or nasal polyps, which are growths in the sinuses.
The Symptoms of Chronic Sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis symptoms are similar to acute sinusitis symptoms. The main difference between the two types of sinusitis is that acute sinusitis is a temporary infection often associated with the common cold. With chronic sinusitis, the symptoms will be longer-lasting, and you won’t often see fever as a symptom. Below, we’ve listed the most common symptoms of chronic sinusitis:
- Reduced sense of smell and taste
- Facial pressure, pain, or tenderness
- Thick green or yellow discharge from the nose
- Dripping sensation down the back of your throat
- Nasal congestion that causes a stuffy nose
- Aching in the teeth, ears, and jaw
- Excessive coughing or clearing of the throat
- Foul taste in your mouth and bad breath
- Headaches that worsen when you bend down
The Causes Of Acute & Chronic Sinusitis
Most commonly, acute sinusitis is a direct result of the common cold, an infection with a virus. When it comes to chronic sinusitis, however, there is a wide range of possible causes. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Respiratory Infections – Viruses or bacteria can cause these infections. Respiratory infections can inflame and thicken the sinus membranes and block mucus drainage.
- Allergies – Environmental allergies such as hay fever can cause inflammation that can block the sinuses and make breathing out the nose difficult.
- Nasal Polyps – This specific kind of tissue growth is known to block the sinuses.
- Deviated Septum – This can restrict sinus passages and exacerbate symptoms of sinusitis.
- Certain Medical Conditions – Complications from certain medical conditions, such as immune system-related diseases, can lead to sinus blockage
How To Treat Acute & Chronic Sinusitis
We may recommend saline nasal spray, nasal corticosteroids, decongestants, allergy medications, pain relievers, antibiotics, or immunotherapy for acute sinusitis treatment, depending on your unique needs and situation. To treat chronic sinusitis, we may recommend nasal corticosteroids, saline nasal irrigation, oral or injected corticosteroids, allergy medications, aspirin desensitization treatment, antifungal treatment, medication to treat nasal polyps, antibiotics, immunotherapy, or surgery, depending on your unique needs and situation.
Contact Our Expert Team Today
Bella Vista ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery provides acute and chronic sinusitis treatment at our Thousand Oaks, CA location. Check out our patient testimonials to learn what our current patients think about our team and our services. We also offer various free patient resources. To schedule a consultation with our expert team, contact us today.