Pain, pressure, tenderness, or swelling around the eyes, cheeks, nose, forehead or back of the head
Nasal congestion
Yellow or green discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat (postnasal drip)
Sense of smell becomes altered, decreased or can be lost
Sore throat, cough, hoarseness, fatigue, pain in the upper jaw or teeth, bad breath
Diagnosis: is based on a thorough history and physical exam. Depending on the severity of symptoms and/or length of symptoms, a CAT scan of the sinuses may be obtained to confirm diagnosis and document the sinuses involved.
Treatment: The goals of treatment are to eradicate infection of the sinuses by promoting drainage and eliminating mucosal swelling. Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis may include:
A three-week course of a broad-spectrum antibiotic covering the most common bacteria infecting the sinuses as recommended by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Nasal corticosteroid spray to help decrease inflammation
Nasal saline irrigants to flush out excess mucous and debris from the nasal cavity thereby promoting drainage
oral antihistamine medications are used to thin mucous and/or decongest the nose and sinuses
Oral steroids are occasionally prescribed to treat nasal polyps and/or severe inflammation
Treatment of associated allergies if present.
Follow-Up: If symptoms of Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) fail to improve with medical therapy, surgery may be recommended. Dr. Cavalli provides cutting edge surgical techniques to treat CRS.
Are you experiencing symptoms of a sinus infection? If so, call Giulio Cavalli Medical in Pittsfield, MA at (413) 443-6116 !