What Exactly is Chronic Sinus Infection?
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios

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Defined Tag: Chronic Sinus Infection.

Chronic sinus infection occurs when the sinuses located on the skull become inflamed, leading to a number of symptoms-filled bouts occurring frequently in a year for long periods of time.

The sinuses are hollow cavities located in the body. Sinus infection pertains to the sinuses located on the skull and bone around the nose, and refers to four pairs of cavities – frontal, in the forehead; maxillary, behind the cheekbones; ethmoid, between the eyes and behind the bridge of the nose; and sphenoid, behind the ethmoid sinuses and the eyes. Sinuses connect to the nose passage, allowing free exchange of air and mucus. However, inflammation can occur after an infection, allergic reactions, or through immunity-connected condition. Air gets trapped in the sinus, causing pressure build-up, and bacteria may also get in. Pus and other secretions may further clog the area and increase the pressure.

Symptoms of chronic sinus infection include pain; pressure along the clogged sinus, sometimes accompanied by tenderness and occasionally, swelling; fever, nasal congestion, often with mucus discharge; dental pain, cough, sore throat, often caused by postnasal drip; difficulty in breathing, reduced sense of smell and taste, bad breath, nausea, and erythema on the skin around the sinus. Pain can be made worse through lying down, or moving the head.

Sinus infection, or sinusitis, occurs in two types, namely acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis. Both have about the same symptoms, but the main difference is in the frequency and duration of the sinusitis episode. Chronic sinusitis lasts for more than 8 weeks, with episodes lasting more than 20 days, and occurring four times, or more, in a year.

Chronic sinusitis is often difficult to treat successfully. Decongestants, nasal saline sprays and corticosteroid nasal sprays are often prescribed. Given the nature of the condition, bacteria are very often responsible for the flare-up, and antibiotics are generally prescribed. Oral steroids may also be given, when other medications have been ineffective. Antihistamines curb the allergen response. Surgery is the last resort, to enlarge nasal passageways to enhance drainage, remove nasal polyps, or to correct a deviated septum.

The condition is also fairly common among asthma sufferers. It is believed chronic sinus infection is caused mostly by air-borne allergens and nasal polyps. However, recent research findings suggest the cause might be in the nasal mucus, and not in the nasal and sinus tissue as previously believed.

BIG Mike is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, Amazon, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services.