Sinusitis is usually understood to be the bacterial inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. As a rule, it is the continued infection of the nasal mucosa in a rhinitis.
Cause
Since the paranasal sinuses are connected to the nasal passages, infections of the nose (rhinitis) can also spread to the paranasal sinuses. In addition, the mucous membrane of the paranasal sinuses is relatively poorly supplied with blood and their narrow openings make it very easy for secretions to accumulate quickly in these cavities. Bacterial infection results in the formation of pus.
An accumulation of pus in the paranasal sinuses is then called empyema. Unhealed inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (chronic sinusitis) can often lead to recurrent (recurrent) infections of the nasal cavity. The most frequently affected areas are the ethmoid sinus and maxillary sinus, less frequently the frontal sinus and sphenoidal sinus.
Symptoms
With a sinusitis one has particularly in the morning and in the afternoon pressing headaches. The headaches get worse the more we perform a strenuous activity, especially when we bend down. This is due to the fact that when we bend down, more blood flows into the irritated mucous membrane according to the force of gravity, which causes an unpleasant feeling of tension and burning.
If we then tap our face lightly with our fingers, we feel a pressure or tapping pain in the inflamed paranasal sinus. This is exactly what the doctor checks. Occipital pain is typical of the rare sphenoid sinusitis (sinusitis sphenoidales).
During sinusitis, we are also accompanied by the signs of a cold with impaired nasal breathing, viscous mucus and fever. Because of the impeded nasal breathing, the mouth is increasingly being breathed, which in turn is accompanied by its own symptoms: snoring, dry mouth and sore throat are the result. and eye pain When we then lightly tap our face with our fingers, a pressure or tapping pain is felt at the inflamed paranasal sinus.
This is exactly what the doctor checks. Occipital pain is typical of the rare sphenoid sinusitis (sinusitis sphenoidales). During sinusitis, we are also accompanied by the signs of a cold with impaired nasal breathing, viscous mucus and fever.
Because of the impeded nasal breathing, the mouth is increasingly being breathed, which in turn is accompanied by its own symptoms: snoring, dry mouth and sore throat are the result. and eye painEven with inflammation of the paranasal sinuses of the upper jaw (maxillary sinus), accompanying toothache can occur. The main symptom of a sinusitis in this area is the throbbing pain in the cheek area, which can be intensified by tapping the lower edge of the orbit.
Headaches may occur, which increase when bent forward. Due to the anatomical proximity of the lower edge of the maxillary sinus to the sensitive nerves of the teeth of the upper jaw, the impression can arise that the discomfort is toothache. However, under no circumstances should the mistake be made of automatically blaming toothache on an existing sinusitis. Rather, an abscess at the root of the tooth can also be present, which in individual cases even promotes sinusitis. In case of doubt, a dental clarification should be made.
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