Nasal Pain

Is Your Nasal Pain Caused By Sinusitis?

Approximately 15 million people every year suffer from nasal pain that is caused by sinusitis. This is an inflammation of your sinuses that is usually a result of either an allergy or a bacterial or viral infection. Sinusitis can either be acute or chronic and can occur in any one of the four sinus groups being ethmoid, maxillary, sphenoid or frontal.

Acute Sinusitis

If your nasal pain is caused from acute sinusitis, it will be completely resolved in under one month. This condition is typically caused by some type of bacteria that develops as a result of something blocking the opening to the affected sinus. Blockages such as these are usually resulted from an upper airway virus infection that occurs from a cold.

When you have a cold, mucous membranes in your nasal cavity become swollen and block the opening. The air that is present in the sinuses is then absorbed by the bloodstream which causes the pressure inside your sinuses to decrease. This causes nasal pain and fluid to be drawn into the sinuses. Bacteria flourish in this environment so white blood cells enter the area to fight off the bacteria which increases more pressure and results in more pain.

Allergies can also be a cause of swelling to occur in the mucous membrane which can block the sinus opening too. It is interesting to note that individuals with a deviated septum are much more prone to having obstructed sinuses.

Chronic Sinusitis

After eight weeks, sinusitis is labeled chronic. It is unknown what exactly causes this condition but it is suggested that it follows a severe allergy, viral infection or exposure to some type of environmental pollutant. Often, genetic predisposition is a factor. If the individual has a fungal or bacterial infection, inflammation is substantially worse. On occasion, an upper tooth abscess can cause chronic sinusitis in the maxillary sinus.

Symptoms Of Sinusitis

If your nasal pain is caused by acute sinusitis there will usually be congestion, obstruction or tenderness in the nose, very bad breath, reduced ability to smell and swelling over the affected area.

Maxillary sinusitis generally causes severe pain below the eyes, over the cheeks, headache and a toothache.

Ethmoid sinusitis will cause a bacterial infection to be present on the skin that is around the eye socket, pain behind the eyes, headache over the forehead and tearing.

Frontal sinusitis causes a severe headache over the whole forehead area.

Sphenoid sinusitis causes random pain that may be present in the back or front of your head or both.

Green or yellow pus may also be discharged from your nose if you have sinusitis. Chills and fever might occur as well but this is usually a suggestion that the infection has spread to other areas beyond the sinuses. Any swelling around the eyes or changes in vision are extremely serious and could result in blindness within minutes to hours. Should such a symptom be present, you need to seek emergency care immediately.

Chronic sinusitis symptoms are very similar to acute sinusitis symptoms. Nasal congestion, obstruction and postnasal drip are all common. With both acute and chronic sinusitis, you may also have a general ill feeling.

Treatment

The good news is that your nasal pain can be treated. The goal with acute sinusitis is to cure the infection and improve drainage. Steam inhalation and sipping hot beverages usually helps. Pseudoephedrine taken orally is helpful as are nasal sprays. Antibiotics may also be given.

Chronic sinusitis sufferers will take antibiotics for an extended period of time. If this does not help, surgery may be required to improve drainage or you may need to have you sinuses washed out.