Risk of infection

Sinusitis is a viral or bacterial infection of the mucous membranes of one of the paranasal sinuses. The risk of infection varies depending on the type of pathogen causing the infection. Especially in the cold winter months, acute sinusitis is often caused by so-called rhinoviruses.

These usually attack the nasopharynx and cause sore throats, rhinitis and, more rarely, bronchitis. An infection with rhinoviruses is not dangerous for the otherwise healthy patient, but there is a risk of infection for the surrounding area. The viruses are transmitted by droplet infection when sneezing or as a smear infection when shaking hands or through contact with infected objects.

If a viral infection is suspected, increased attention must be paid to personal hygiene. Sick and healthy people should wash their hands frequently, avoid contact of the hands with the face and use disposable paper tissues to blow their nose. In the case of an illness in the family, disinfectant spray helps to reduce the viral load on everyday objects.

Bacterial sinusitis is rarer than the viral one. It is usually due to reduced drainage of the secretion formed by the mucous membranes of the sinuses. This is sometimes colonized by bacteria, resulting in an inflammatory condition of the sinus.

Although the pathogens, which include not only staphylococci and streptococci but also pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae, can also be transmitted via nasal secretion, they are usually not dangerous for healthy people. Chronic sinusitis is usually caused by the retention of secretions when the natural drainage channels of nasal secretion are blocked. The chronic sinusitis is therefore due to nasal polyps and anatomical conditions and for this reason is not contagious. The same applies to chronic paranasal sinus inflammation in the context of an allergy.

Duration

General statements about the duration of a sinusitis are difficult to make. As a rough rule of thumb one can assume that the acute form heals within twelve weeks. The chronic form persists beyond twelve weeks and tends to recur frequently. How quickly a sinusitis heals depends on the type of therapy used and the discipline with which the treatment guidelines are followed. If accompanying symptoms such as anatomical deformities of the nasal cavity or concomitant diseases such as a pronounced infestation with nasal polyps occur, these can prolong the course of the disease.