What is Acute Sinusitis?
Acute sinusitis causes the spaces inside your nose (sinuses) to become inflamed and swollen. This interferes with drainage and causes mucus to build up.
With acute sinusitis, it might be difficult to breathe through your nose. The area around your eyes and face might feel swollen, and you might have throbbing facial pain or a headache.
Acute sinusitis is mostly caused by the common cold. Sinusitis that lasts more than 12 weeks despite medical treatment is called chronic sinusitis.
Symptoms
Acute sinusitis symptoms often include:
- Thick, yellow or greenish discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage)
- Nasal blockage or congestion, causing difficulty breathing through your nose
- Pain, tenderness, swelling and pressure around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead that worsens when bending over
Other signs and symptoms include:
- Ear pressure
- Headache
- Aching in your teeth
- Cough
- Bad breath
Causes
Acute sinusitis is most often caused by the common cold, which is a viral infection. In some cases, a bacterial infection develops.
You may be at increased risk of getting sinusitis if you have:
- Hay fever or another allergic condition
- A nasal passage abnormality, such as a deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps or tumors
- Cystic fibrosis or an immune system disorder such as HIV/AIDS
- Exposure to smoke, either from smoking or through secondhand smoke exposure
Complications
Acute sinusitis complications are uncommon, and serious complications are rare.
If they occur, complications might include:
- Chronic sinusitis.
- Meningitis.
- Osteomyelitis or cellulitis.
- Vision problems.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acute-sinusitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351671
