Frequency distribution
Inflammation of the frontal sinuses occurs mainly in patients with particularly narrow paranasal sinuses or defects of the nasal septum. It is very rare in small children or infants because they have to develop their frontal sinuses completely and only very little secretion can be deposited there before. Nevertheless, especially after middle ear infections, frontal sinusitis can also occur in small children.
Diagnosis
In order to make the diagnosis of a sinusitis, an extensive doctor-patient consultation, i.e. an anamnesis, is required. In addition, the doctor can take blood samples to determine whether an acute bacterial or viral inflammation is present. Additionally, the nose can be examined from the inside, this procedure is called rhinoscopy.
The doctor uses a thin tube, which is inserted into the nose. A camera can then be used to view the nose on a monitor and thus make the correct diagnosis. Instead of taking a blood sample, a nasal swab can also be taken to determine which pathogens cause the rhinitis and thus usually also the sinusitis. In rare cases, especially in the case of chronic sinusitis, an X-ray or computed tomography (CT) image can be taken to determine whether there is still secretion in the sinus and thus responsible for the inflammation.
Symptoms
The symptoms of sinusitis occur with varying intensity in each patient. Nevertheless, there are many similarities.On the one hand, it is typical that sinusitis occurs after a cold or as a result of the allergy. The patient therefore usually has a cold that has been going on for a long time and in addition constantly has the feeling that the nose is blocked and there is no possibility of complete relief.
Often the nose is completely blocked and the patient finds it difficult to breathe through the nose, which then leads to snoring at night. In addition, purulent, and in rare cases slightly bloody discharge from the nose can occur. The pus is caused by the bacteria, bleeding can occur when small veins in the nose tear due to constant nose blowing.
A typical symptom is also an increasing headache (cephalgia), especially in the forehead area. However, the pain can also spread to the area behind the eyes. In addition to the pain, there is a strong feeling of pressure.
The feeling of pressure and pain can increase when the weight is shifted to the front, for example when sitting bent over at the front. If an inflammation of the frontal sinus is left untreated for a long time, the inflammation can worsen and it can also lead to fever, swelling and visual disturbances. At the latest with these symptoms a doctor is to be consulted urgently.
