Exudative sinusitis - inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. The name of the disease reflects the nature of its course. "Exudate" in translation from the Latin language means "stand out". Modern medicine with this term means fluid, which, during inflammation, enters the cavities or tissues from small blood vessels.
Concept and types of disease
The disease provokes swelling of the maxillary sinuses. Their purpose - filling with air through the nose, to stabilize the pressure inside the cranium. With edema, this air exchange is disrupted, and secretions accumulate in the sinuses themselves. Such a pathology can be observed both simultaneously from two sides, and only from one side. Therefore, a distinction is made between bilateral, right-sided and left-sided sinusitis of the exudative type.
Depending on the form of the course of the disease, the following types are distinguished:
- Catarrhal when it comes to the initial stage of the disease. The clinical picture is shortness of breath, swelling of the nose. If therapy is started immediately, the disease goes away quickly.
- Serous. Edema and congestion are accompanied by redness of the mucous membrane, accumulation of snot, and the formation of crusts in the nose. It is treated relatively quickly with lavages and vasoconstrictor drugs.
- Purulent develops in the absence of therapy, when fluid is released, stagnates and tangibly presses on the walls of the sinuses. Over time, the mucus transforms into pus, leaves poorly, becomes viscous, acquires a light yellow tint, and an unpleasant odor. Crusts are also formed. Signs of intoxication appear, the body temperature rises, the person feels a breakdown.
It is the last form of sinusitis that easily flows into chronic sinusitis, causing complications. The disease may not go away for months, or even years. It then subsides, then aggravates again during periods of weakening of the body's defenses.
Sometimes the discharge is speckled with blood. This happens if the vessels are simultaneously affected. Then there is a risk that the infection will enter the circulatory system and spread throughout the body.
The causes of the onset of the disease
The disease begins to develop due to the ingress of microbes, allergens, viruses, fungi that have previously entered the body into the nasal cavity. It also occurs against the background of a cold in winter and autumn, when immunity decreases.
Viruses rarely lead to purulent forms of the disease, more often catarrhal or serous sinusitis appears. Its development is facilitated by a lack of sunlight and vitamins. Of the microorganisms, pneumococci, staphylococci, streptococci are dangerous. They fall into the sinuses due to tooth decay in the upper jaw, measles, and other ailments. Even in the absence of obvious signs of any disease, microbes can be activated due to the seasonal weakening of the body.
Severe swelling of the sinuses and nasal membranes provoke allergens. When the flowering of herbs and trees begins, allergy sufferers are worried about serous discharge, nasal congestion, itching, and sneezing attacks.
Fungi cause sinusitis of this type most often during antibiotic therapy. Fungal sinusitis is much more difficult to diagnose and treat. Only a microbiological analysis can accurately determine the disease, external symptoms are inexpressive.
In addition, immunity disorders, trauma to the nose or nasal septum, periodontitis or caries, work in hazardous industries can provoke the development of the disease.
Signs of illness
As we noted above, the main symptoms of the disease are swelling and nasal congestion, and strong discharge. The patient feels pain when feeling the face in the sinus area, tilting the head, in a horizontal position.
Other common manifestations of the disease testify to sinusitis:
- apathy;
- sleep disturbance;
- discomfort in the area of the brow, bridge of the nose, nose;
- poor appetite;
- swelling of the eyelids.
A characteristic feature of this type of sinusitis is the formation of polyps in the nose. If you do not start his treatment on time, he will soon become chronic. It is characterized by the following signs:
- unproductive cough;
- runoff of snot along the back of the pharynx;
- violation of the sense of smell;
- discomfort when blinking;
- pain in the eye sockets;
- migraine;
- lingering conjunctivitis;
- chronic rhinitis.
Treatment methods
The main task of the treatment of sinusitis of any type is not only the elimination of unpleasant symptoms, but also the prevention of complications of the disease, its transition to a chronic form. This can be achieved by restoring the natural drainage of the sinuses and eliminating the causes of inflammation. The patient is advised to give up bad habits, prescribe a healthy diet, humidify the air in the room, and drink plenty of fluids.
Direct treatment involves:
- injecting Rinofluimucil and Sinuforte into the nose to thin pus and mucus;
- rinsing the nasal passages with a solution of sea salt (sprays "No-Salt", "Physiomer", "Aqualor", "Aqua Maris");
- instillation in the nostrils of "Ipratropium bromide" or other drugs, the action of which is aimed at reducing rhinorrhea;
- the use of vasoconstrictor drugs (DlyaNos, Oxymetazoline, Klisen, Rinonorm);
- taking antihistamines (Erius, Desloratadin, Zyrtec).
Antibiotics are prescribed to fight the infection. Preference is given to macrolides or penicillins (Erythromycin, Augmentin, Flemoklav, Azitrox). If the disease has reached a severe form, fourth-generation cephalosporins (Ceftriaxone, Suprax) are prescribed in the form of intramuscular injections. Sometimes tablet forms of these drugs can be used.
If you have other serious symptoms, your doctor will prescribe additional medications to correct them. For example, in extreme heat, Nimesil, Nurofen, Ibuprofen are prescribed.
With a mild form of the disease, antiviral drugs are taken (Cycloferon, Viferon, Kagocel). The nose is sprayed from the inside with antibiotic or antiseptic sprays (Isofra, Protargol, Albucid, Bioparox, Miramistin). In a severe form of the disease, nasal glucocorticosteroids ("Avamis" or "Nasonex") are used.
Physiotherapeutic methods are also prescribed: blue light, sollux, UHF, magnetotherapy, laser treatment. The nose is washed using special devices such as "Yamik-catheter" or "Cuckoo".
Sometimes, with a severe course of a chronic disease, you have to resort to surgery. The doctor makes a sinus puncture to remove pus from it and flush it with antibiotics. After the puncture, a catheter is inserted into the affected cavity, through which purulent accumulations are aspirated every day and the necessary drugs are injected.
Treatment of children
During illness, babies are very capricious, refuse food, do not sleep well, have a high body temperature. There may also be swelling of the eyelids or even the entire face. Children have more pronounced and severe symptoms, since more often two sinuses are affected at once by an acute form of the disease.
The disease in babies proceeds faster and more acutely, therefore, treatment should be started as soon as there is a suspicion of sinusitis. Otherwise, the rapidly developing disease will quickly turn into a severe form. Usually, children are prescribed antibiotics in the form of suspensions, constantly flushing the nasal passages with saline solutions, thoroughly clearing each nostril of mucus in turn. Small patients are prescribed such vasoconstrictor drugs as "Polydex" or "Protargol", which are used in courses of no more than five days.
They try not to carry out operations, since children do not tolerate them well.Therefore, in case of a severe course of the disease, the "Yamik-catheter" is used. In difficult cases, purulent sinusitis in babies is treated in a hospital, with mild forms of the disease it is permissible to fight at home.
Prevention is the foundation of health
It is always easier to prevent a disease than to treat it later, especially in a severe form. It is important to monitor the course of sinusitis in case of ARVI so that the disease does not become chronic. Allergy sufferers need to monitor the body's reactions to various substances, try not to come into contact with allergens and take appropriate medications on time. In addition, it is worth adhering to the following recommendations:
- strengthen immunity;
- give up bad habits (overeating, heavy food, smoking, excess alcohol);
- wear a hat, do not overcool;
- avoid crowded places during the epidemic season;
- engage in physical activity;
- try not to come into contact with allergens and use anti-allergenic agents in a timely manner;
- regularly spray the nasal passages with saline solutions;
- blow your nose correctly.
Keeping the room clean, maintaining the required humidity level in it will also save you from illness.
