Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsRisk FactorsDiagnosis and TreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Risk Factors
Diagnosis and Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Rhinosinusitis(or sinusitis), more commonly known as asinus infection, affects 30 million people in the United States each year.When a sinus infection lasts for 12 weeks or longer, it’s known as chronic rhinosinusitis.
Nasal polyps, which are small, noncancerous growths in the nose or sinuses, often occur with chronic rhinosinusitis. These conditions occur together because of chronic inflammation in the nasal and sinus membranes.
This article will explore the symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of both chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps, as well as ways to prevent or reduce the frequency of nasal polyps.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Symptoms of Sinusitis
Sinusitis is classified based on how long the infection and symptoms have been present. If the symptoms have occurred for four weeks or less, it’s known as acute sinusitis. When symptoms are present for four to 12 weeks, it’s known as subacute sinusitis.
However, when sinusitis persists at the 12-week mark and beyond, sinusitis is then called chronic rhinosinusitis.
To be diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis, you must have at least two of the following symptoms or findings of the condition on a computed tomography (CT) scan:
If you have taken antibiotics for symptoms of sinusitis but symptoms continue to recur, you may have chronic rhinosinusitis.
Risk Factors and Causes
Why an acute rhinosinusitis infection becomes a chronic rhinosinusitis infection is not fully understood.
However, people who are prone to chronic rhinosinusitis often have one or more of the following risk factors:
Samter’s TriadPatients who have asthma, aspirin intolerance, and nasal polyps have a chronic condition known as Samter’s triad.
Samter’s Triad
Patients who have asthma, aspirin intolerance, and nasal polyps have a chronic condition known as Samter’s triad.
Risk Factors for Nasal Polyps
Other risk factors for nasal polyps include:
When diagnosing chronic rhinosinusitis, a healthcare provider may ask about typical symptoms such as fever, pain (particularly sinus pain), coughing, and nasal congestion.
The healthcare provider may use a handheld device with a lighted end, known as an endoscope, to see inside the nose and determine whether the sinuses are swollen and/or draining. ACT scanmay also be needed to diagnose chronic rhinosinusitis.
Diagnosing Nasal Polyps
A healthcare provider will diagnose nasal polyps using similar methods: a physical exam, gathering a medical history, a nasal endoscopy, and a sinus CT scan.
Usually a history of nasal congestion, chronic rhinosinusitis, and loss of smell may suggest nasal polyps.
Viral and Bacterial Sinusitis Treatments
Since most sinusitis infections, especially acute ones, are viral in nature, they typically improve within two weeks.
However, if symptoms do not improve after seven to 10 days and a bacterial infection is suspected, a healthcare provider provider may prescribe antibiotics.
In addition to oral antibiotics, an intranasal corticosteroid may also be prescribed, which in some cases may be more effective than just antibiotics alone.
Treatment for Nasal Polyps
Treatment for nasal polyps may include the following:
How to Prevent Nasal Polyps
While the exact cause of nasal polyps is unknown, they often develop in adulthood in people in their 30s and 40s.
A few ways to prevent or reduce the frequency of nasal polyps include:
A Word From Verywell
When the debilitating symptoms of sinusitis continue for over 10 days, you should see your healthcare provider to rule out a bacterial infection. Resting as much as possible will help your body fight the infection. Also consider using saline nasal washes to clear stuffy nasal passages and warm facial compresses to soothe swollen sinuses. And eating some hot chicken soup doesn’t hurt.
Frequently Asked QuestionsChronic rhinosinusitis is a very common medical condition that involves inflammation of the nose and sinuses. It affects 12% of the adult population worldwide. Nearly 20% of people with chronic rhinosinusitis also have nasal polyps. These benign, noncancerous growths occur from inflammation in the mucus membranes and are often present in both sides of the nasal passages.Nasal polyps are noncancerous (benign), soft sac-like tissue growths that occur inside the nasal passages. They are usually teardrop-shaped growths, or they may appear together like a bunch of small grapes. Small nasal polyps may not pose a problem, but when they are large, they can block sinus passages and cause a blockage of airflow and even loss of smell.
Chronic rhinosinusitis is a very common medical condition that involves inflammation of the nose and sinuses. It affects 12% of the adult population worldwide. Nearly 20% of people with chronic rhinosinusitis also have nasal polyps. These benign, noncancerous growths occur from inflammation in the mucus membranes and are often present in both sides of the nasal passages.
Nasal polyps are noncancerous (benign), soft sac-like tissue growths that occur inside the nasal passages. They are usually teardrop-shaped growths, or they may appear together like a bunch of small grapes. Small nasal polyps may not pose a problem, but when they are large, they can block sinus passages and cause a blockage of airflow and even loss of smell.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rosenfeld RM, Piccirillo JF, Chandrasekhar SS, et al.Clinical practice guideline (Update): adult sinusitis.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;152(2_suppl):S1-S39. doi:10.1177/0194599815572097UpToDate.Patient education: chronic rhinosinusitus (beyond the basics).Kwah JH, Peters AT.Nasal polyps and rhinosinusitis.Allergy Asthma Proc. 2019;40(6):380-384. doi:10.2500/aap.2019.40.4252.UpToDate.Patient education: acute sinusitis (sinus infection) (beyond the basics).American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Nasal polyps.Cleveland Clinic.Nasal polyps.Rennard SI, Kalil AC, Casaburi R.Chicken soup in the time of covid.Chest. 2020;158(3):864-865. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2020.04.044
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rosenfeld RM, Piccirillo JF, Chandrasekhar SS, et al.Clinical practice guideline (Update): adult sinusitis.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;152(2_suppl):S1-S39. doi:10.1177/0194599815572097UpToDate.Patient education: chronic rhinosinusitus (beyond the basics).Kwah JH, Peters AT.Nasal polyps and rhinosinusitis.Allergy Asthma Proc. 2019;40(6):380-384. doi:10.2500/aap.2019.40.4252.UpToDate.Patient education: acute sinusitis (sinus infection) (beyond the basics).American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Nasal polyps.Cleveland Clinic.Nasal polyps.Rennard SI, Kalil AC, Casaburi R.Chicken soup in the time of covid.Chest. 2020;158(3):864-865. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2020.04.044
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Rosenfeld RM, Piccirillo JF, Chandrasekhar SS, et al.Clinical practice guideline (Update): adult sinusitis.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;152(2_suppl):S1-S39. doi:10.1177/0194599815572097UpToDate.Patient education: chronic rhinosinusitus (beyond the basics).Kwah JH, Peters AT.Nasal polyps and rhinosinusitis.Allergy Asthma Proc. 2019;40(6):380-384. doi:10.2500/aap.2019.40.4252.UpToDate.Patient education: acute sinusitis (sinus infection) (beyond the basics).American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Nasal polyps.Cleveland Clinic.Nasal polyps.Rennard SI, Kalil AC, Casaburi R.Chicken soup in the time of covid.Chest. 2020;158(3):864-865. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2020.04.044
Rosenfeld RM, Piccirillo JF, Chandrasekhar SS, et al.Clinical practice guideline (Update): adult sinusitis.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;152(2_suppl):S1-S39. doi:10.1177/0194599815572097
UpToDate.Patient education: chronic rhinosinusitus (beyond the basics).
Kwah JH, Peters AT.Nasal polyps and rhinosinusitis.Allergy Asthma Proc. 2019;40(6):380-384. doi:10.2500/aap.2019.40.4252.
UpToDate.Patient education: acute sinusitis (sinus infection) (beyond the basics).
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Nasal polyps.
Cleveland Clinic.Nasal polyps.
Rennard SI, Kalil AC, Casaburi R.Chicken soup in the time of covid.Chest. 2020;158(3):864-865. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2020.04.044
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