Acute frontal sinusitis - how to identify and avoid dangerous complications in time

When the paranasal sinuses, namely the frontal sinuses, become inflamed, causing pain, difficulty breathing and other problems. Acute frontal sinusitis, which is an inflammation of the frontal sinuses, most often occurs in people who often get colds, as well as in people with allergies, smokers, people with a weakened immune system, enlarged adenoids, and fungal infections. How to recognize acute frontitis and start treatment on time, estet-portal.com will tell in this article.

What factors contribute to the occurrence of acute frontal sinusitis

The paranasal sinuses (aka sinuses) perform several functions. They filter the air you breathe and trap dust particles and other irritants. Apart from this, they also affect the sound of your voice. Therefore, in the event of infection or inflammation of the sinuses, the functions described above undergo changes.

The main cause of acute frontal sinusitis is the accumulation of mucus. But there can be several reasons for the increased production of mucus by the frontal sinuses:

1. Bacteria. The sinuses contain a large number of tiny hairs that prevent microorganisms from entering the paranasal sinuses. They are called eyelashes. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of such cilia does not reach 100% - the bacteria still manage to get into your nose and move into the sinuses. And after hitting the destination, i.e. paranasal sinuses, bacteria attach to their mucous membranes and multiply rapidly.
2. Viruses. Viruses – real "hard nuts" that lead to the development of infections in the body. With viral infections, the amount of mucus produced by the paranasal sinuses increases. Because of this, they often become clogged and inflamed.
3. Nasal polyps. Polyps are abnormal growths that, if they appear in the frontal sinuses, can block the sinuses and prevent air filtration, as well as increase the amount of mucus produced and block its flow.
4. Deviated septum. People with a deviated septum cannot breathe equally through both sides of their nose. Improper air circulation can cause inflammation of the tissues of the frontal sinuses.

Symptoms of acute frontal sinusitis

The most common symptom of acute frontal sinusitis is pain. Other symptoms of acute frontal sinusitis may vary depending on the type of inflammation or infection. Among them:

• runny nose;
• pressure behind the eyes;
• loss of smell;
• cough that worsens at night;
• not feeling well;
• fever;
• fatigue;
• sore throat;
• Difficulty breathing.

Acute frontal sinusitis: treatment depending on the cause

The appropriate treatment for acute frontal sinusitis after diagnosis is prescribed by the doctor, based on the cause of acute frontal sinusitis. Available treatments for acute frontal sinusitis include:

1. Antibiotics (if acute frontal sinusitis is caused by bacterial infections, viral infections do not respond to antibiotics).
2. Surgical intervention (in case of deviated septum).
3. Nasal sprays (to relieve frontal sinus pressure and nasal congestion).
4. Pain medications (as prescribed by a doctor to relieve pain).
5. Sinus lavage, electrophoresis, physiotherapy methods.

In the absence of timely treatment, complications are possible in the form of:

• inflammation of adjacent paranasal sinuses (sinusitis, ethmoiditis, sphenoiditis);
• edema, abscess of the eyelids, phlegmon of the orbit, swelling of the tissue of the eye;
• meningitis, brain abscesses;
• sepsis.

Taking into account the possible complications of acute frontal sinusitis, in the event of the onset of symptoms of frontal sinusitis, it is highly recommended not to self-medicate. The sooner you seek help from a qualified specialist, the sooner you can get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of acute frontal sinusitis, while avoiding dangerous complications.