How do I know if I have chronic sinusitis?

Chronic sinusitis is a condition caused by persistent obstruction of the paranasal sinuses. The paranasal sinuses are hollow areas of the facial and cranial bones. The sinuses are paired (one on the left and one on the right of each type) and are named according to the bones they are contained within: frontal, ethmoid, maxillary and sphenoid sinuses. The sinuses have opening into the nasal airway. These openings (each is called an ostium; together they are called ostia) can become obstructed when the mucosal tissue that lines the sinuses and nasal passages becomes inflamed. Obstructed sinus ostia leads to a buildup of mucosa within the sinus. Bacteria and fungi may become trapped in these obstructed sinuses and can multiply causing acute or chronic, low-grade sinus infections.

The most common symptom of chronic sinusitis is chronic nasal obstruction. Difficulty breathing through the nose is a sign of chronic nasal obstruction. Symptoms also include headaches, facial pressure or pain, and feelings of swelling around the eyes or face. Often chronic sinusitis is due to a chronic infection within the sinuses. This may lead to thick yellowish or green discharge through the nose or down the back of the throat (post nasal drip). Drainage from the back of the nose may lead to a chronic cough due to irritation of the throat. Pain or swelling around the eyes, cheeks and forehead or pain in the upper teeth are additional signs of infection. The sense of smell comes from nerves located in the upper part of the nose. When nasal tissues are inflamed, the odorants in the air cannot reach these nerves, decreasing a person’s ability to smell.

An Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose, and Throat specialists) is a chronic sinusitis doctor. Chicago Otolaryngologists at the Advanced Center for Specialty Care can evaluate your symptoms of chronic nasal obstruction or chronic sinusitis and determine which treatments are necessary. Sinus care in Chicago begins with an evaluation of your medical history, a physical examination that includes using a very small camera to look inside of the nose, and often a CT scan (a type of x-ray that provides a clear image of the sinuses). Treatment usually beings with medications, including nasal sprays and irrigations. If these medical treatments do not relieve your symptoms, nasal sinus surgery at Chicago's Illinois Masonic Medical Center may be the next step. There are many surgical options and nearly all of them are minimally invasive, leaving no scars on the face.