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Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue? Check for Sinusitis:From Judy Tidwell, Your Guide to Allergies.
Acute Sinusitis
Acute sinusitis may be caused by a previous viral infection, which
causes swelling of the sinus membranes. As a result, one or more of the
sinuses may become blocked. A bacterial infection may then occur as a
result of the sinus blockage.
Acute sinusitis commonly follows a typical "cold." If cold symptoms last
much more than one week, the cold may have advanced into a sinus
infection. The most common bacteria that cause acute sinusitis are
streptococcus pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenza, Type b and Branhamella
catarrhalis.
If this is your first episode of acute sinusitis and you are not too sick,
you may want to give it a few days to resolve before asking a physician to
prescribe an antibiotic. A decongestant might help relieve symptoms and
promote drainage of the infection.
If you (or your child) have a fever (greater than 100.5 degrees F), pain
or swelling in the face or eye, redness on the cheek or around the eye,
severe headaches, confusion or a stiff neck, see your physician
immediately. If you have frequent episodes of acute sinusitis or if your
symptoms never completely go away, you may have chronic sinusitis.
Chronic Sinusitis
A diagnosis of chronic sinusitis is made when sinusitis symptoms last
for more than 12 weeks despite medical treatment. Chronic sinusitis may be
caused by blockage of the sinus openings, problems with the movement of
mucus or a weakness in the immune system. Symptoms are similar to those of
acute sinusitis however, patients usually do not have a fever.
Factors such as allergies or bacterial infection also play a major role in
chronic sinusitis by producing inflammation in the sinus membranes.
Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic illnesses in Americans
under 45 years of age.
Approximately 20% of patients with chronic sinusitis develop nasal polyps.
Nasal polyps are cyst-like growths that develop from sinus tissue. The
resulting growth causes the sinus cavities to become blocked.
Chronic infection and exposure to allergens can contribute to sinus
membrane inflammation that fails to clear up. People with chronic
sinusitis should undergo an evaluation for allergies, especially to test
for allergens that are difficult to avoid, such as indoor dust mites and
molds.
People with sinusitis should consult with an allergist/immunologist when
their symptoms interfere with their performance, causing them to miss
significant amounts of school or work, or when they do not respond to the
usual antibiotic treatment and the condition becomes chronic, recurring
two to three times per year.
An allergist/immunologist is a physician trained in the diagnosis and
treatment of allergic diseases including sinusitis. The
allergist/immunologist will take a thorough history and conduct tests to
make a correct diagnosis. |
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