Complications

Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis) can spread to the orbit (orbit), since the limitation is only given by a wafer-thin bone plate. Swelling of the upper eyelids, pain in eye movement and restriction of the lines of vision can be warning signals for a breakthrough of this bone plate. A dramatic case is when the skin around the eye is swollen, red, heated and painful (orbital phlegm). Paranasal sinusitis that has existed for more than three months is chronic (chronic sinusitis). A chronic sinusitis that can no longer be treated with antibiotic drugs (antibiotics) and irrigations should be treated surgically if necessary.

Forms of sinusitis

Sinusitis maxillaris is an inflammation of the paranasal sinus of the upper jaw (maxillary sinus). In most cases, it is caused by an infection with viruses or bacteria and is occasionally promoted by the obstruction of the natural drainage channels of the nasal secretion by nasal polyps or a deformed nasal septum. Allergies can also cause sinusitis.More rarely, sinusitis can be caused by an inflamed root of the upper jaw.

The main symptom of maxillary sinusitis is a pressing pain in the cheek area, which can be intensified by tapping the lower edge of the orbit. A reddening of the cheeks can also be a visible sign of the disease. Affected persons often complain of oppressive, throbbing headaches.

Occasionally, toothache occurs. The pain usually increases when it is cold, whereas warmth is perceived as pleasant. The sensation of smell and taste can be significantly restricted in the case of sinusitis.

Sinusitis is an inflammation of one of the two frontal sinuses, which are also called frontal sinuses. The triggering causes correspond to those of other sinusitis. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the frontal sinuses, which causes headaches that concentrate in the forehead on the affected side and can also affect the eye socket.

Those affected complain of an increase in pain when bending forward. It becomes dangerous when the inflammation spreads to the orbit. Signs of this are redness and swelling of the upper eyelid as well as redness of the entire orbit and a painful restriction of movement of the eyeball of the affected side.

This so-called orbitaphlegmon must be treated immediately in a specialist eye clinic to avoid late damage. Another potentially life-threatening complication of frontal sinusitis is meningitis. The sphenoid sinuses are small air-filled cavities in the sphenoidal bone (sinus sphenoidalis) of the skull, which serve to reduce the weight of the skull bone and as resonating bodies during voice formation.

As in all paranasal sinuses, an inflammation can also spread here, which is called sphenoidal sinusitis. The causes and the development of the disease correspond to those of other sinusitis while the symptoms are rather unspecific. At first, a more or less pronounced feeling of illness with pressing headaches occurs.

In sphenoidal sinusitis, these are often located in the back of the head and can become worse when bent forward. Sphenoidal sinusitis is occasionally accompanied by a restriction of the sense of smell. In severe cases, purulent secretion may be evacuated, which usually drains via the throat and is not immediately visible. Sphenoid sinusitis can also lead to a potentially life-threatening complication, meningitis. A medical clarification and treatment is therefore justified in any case.