Allergy Complications: Sinusitis
Sinusitis is inflammation of the membranes lining the paranasal sinuses, a small air-filled space located inside the skull or head bone around the nose. Sinusitis can be caused by infection or other health problems and symptoms including facial pain and runny nose.
The paranasal sinuses consist of four pairs of air-filled spaces:
- Frontal sinus: over the eyes on the eyebrows
- Ethmoid sinus: just behind the bridge of the nose, between the eyes
- Maxillary sinus: in each cheekbone
- Sphenoid sinus: behind the ethmoid in the upper part of the nose and behind the eyes
There are two basic types of sinusitis:
- Acute sinusitis - an infection that lasts up to 3 weeks, which is caused by a bacterial infection in many cases and usually occurs as a final (secondary) complication of a respiratory viral infection such as a cold or as a result of an untreated allergy.
- Chronic sinusitis - infections that last more than 3 weeks can also be caused by bacterial infections, but more often as a chronic inflammatory disorder similar to bronchial asthma. Chronic sinusitis can last for months or years if not treated. Allergies, structural problems or immunological problems can cause chronic sinus infections.
What is the relationship between allergies and sinusitis?
Allergies are caused by abnormal immune responses to allergen exposure (pollen, animal dander, dust mites, mold, etc.). Inflammation due to allergies can occur anywhere along the respiratory tract - especially in the nose and sinus that is covered in mucus.
Inflammation due to allergies from sinus tissue can interfere with the normal cleaning activities of bacteria in the sinus cavity, which often leads to infection. In this situation, respiratory allergy can trigger recurrent sinus infections. Because chronic sinusitis may originate from allergies and infections, the causative factors must be carefully evaluated and treated for effective disease management.
Diagnosis sinusitis
Often, health care providers can diagnose acute sinusitis by reviewing a person's symptoms by examining the nose and face. Doctors may perform a procedure called rhinoscopy, in which they use instruments such as thin flexible tubes to examine the inside of the nose.
If symptoms do not clearly indicate sinusitis or if symptoms persist for a long time and do not get better with treatment, the doctor may order a computerized tomography (CT) scan form of x-ray that shows some soft tissue and other structures that cannot be seen on conventional X-rays - to confirm the diagnosis of sinusitis and to evaluate how severe the condition is.
Laboratory tests that health experts can use to examine possible causes of chronic rhinosinusitis include:
- Allergy test
- Blood tests to rule out conditions associated with sinusitis, such as immune deficiency disorders
- Sweat test or blood test to rule out cystic fibrosis
- Test on ingredients inside the sinus to detect bacterial or fungal infections
- Aspirin test to test for aspirin-aggravated respiratory disease In an aspirin test, a person takes a small dose of aspirin but gradually increases with the careful supervision of a health professional.
Allergy treatment for allergic sinusitis
For more than 90 years, allergen immunotherapy (allergic injection) has been recognized as one of the most effective treatments for respiratory allergies. Several studies over the years have shown that immunotherapy / allergic injections are cost-effective in reducing nasal and eye symptoms, reducing drug use and improving quality of life.
Over the years, allergic sufferers have reported fewer upper respiratory infections during allergic injections. Recent studies confirm the value of immunotherapy for allergic sinusitis and asthma.
In addition to medical care, it is clear that immunotherapy remains an important and unique treatment for sufferers of chronic allergies with chronic sinusitis.
Although sinusitis and allergies can be separate and independent processes, allergies seem to worsen existing sinusitis. Upper respiratory allergies often play an important role in maintaining chronic inflammation of all mucous membranes including parts of the sinus.
Patient data reveal that allergy injections are very important in allergic individuals who do not respond to medical and surgical treatment for chronic sinusitis where allergies occur.
Treatment can be divided into allergen avoidance, drugs, and immunotherapy for the management of allergic components of chronic sinusitis.
Of all the therapies offered for respiratory allergies, injection therapy or immunotherapy may be the most specific and effective treatment available in preventing recurring symptoms in hypersensitive patients. However, immunotherapy is only effective if allergens can be identified and put into allergic serum at adequate concentrations. Only half the concentration often proves inadequate in stubborn cases. A careful and comprehensive history of allergy and a skilled allergy test are the basis for an effective treatment program.
Prevention of sinusitis
There is little information about the prevention of acute or chronic sinusitis, but the following steps can help:
- Avoid exposure to irritants such as cigarettes and cigars or strong chemicals.
- To avoid infection, wash your hands frequently during the common cold season and try to avoid touching your face.
- If you have allergies, avoid exposure to stimulating allergic substances, or consider asking your health care provider for an allergy evaluation or referral to an allergy specialist.
