Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Chronicsinusitis(sinus infection) is sinus inflammation lasting three months or longer. Your sinuses are hollow spaces in your cheekbones, around your eyes, and behind your nose. These areas are moist with mucus that help filter, warm, and moisten the air you breathe. Inflammation and infection can occur if something prevents the mucus from draining properly.
This article will help you identify the symptoms of chronic sinusitis and learn about its causes, diagnostic procedures, and treatment options.
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Chronic Sinusitis Symptoms
The primary indicator of chronic sinusitis is the duration of symptoms. If you experience sinusitis symptoms for three months or more, it’s considered chronic.General symptoms of sinusitis include the following:
You may only have a few of these symptoms. Loss of smell can also be a symptom of COVID-19. Even if you do not think you have been exposed,take a COVID-19 testto ensure you are negative.
Understanding Acute and Chronic Pansinusitis
The possible causes of chronic sinusitis are the same as acute sinusitis (which lasts four weeks or less) or subacute sinusitis (which lasts one to three months). They include:
Certain lifestyle behaviors, environmental factors, and health conditions can increase your risk of developing chronic sinusitis:
Typically, a physical examination is enough for a provider to diagnose you with acute sinusitis. They will look inside your nose for polyps, shine a light against your sinuses to look for inflammation, or tap over a sinus cavity to check for infection.
If you suspect you have chronic sinusitis, a healthcare provider may recommend further testing to make a diagnosis. These tests include:
Other tests for chronic or repeated sinusitis include:
How Do You Treat Chronic Sinusitis?
Depending on the severity of your chronic sinusitis, a healthcare provider will prescribe medication or recommend surgery. Chronic sinusitis will require medication and, in some cases, surgery. Medicines for chronic sinus infection may include:
Chronic sinusitis usually resolves with self-care or medical treatment. If you experience repeated episodes or symptoms are not get better within three to four weeks, you should be examined for other conditions, such as nasal polyps or allergies.
The following are rare complications of chronic sinusitis:
Summary
8 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.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Sinusitis.MedlinePlus.Chronic sinusitis.MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.MedlinePlus.COVID-19 Symptoms.American Lung Association.Learn about primary ciliary dyskinesia.MedlinePlus.Nasal endoscopy.MedlinePlus.CT scan.Sedaghat AR.Chronic rhinosinusitis.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(8):500-506.
8 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.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Sinusitis.MedlinePlus.Chronic sinusitis.MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.MedlinePlus.COVID-19 Symptoms.American Lung Association.Learn about primary ciliary dyskinesia.MedlinePlus.Nasal endoscopy.MedlinePlus.CT scan.Sedaghat AR.Chronic rhinosinusitis.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(8):500-506.
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.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Sinusitis.MedlinePlus.Chronic sinusitis.MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.MedlinePlus.COVID-19 Symptoms.American Lung Association.Learn about primary ciliary dyskinesia.MedlinePlus.Nasal endoscopy.MedlinePlus.CT scan.Sedaghat AR.Chronic rhinosinusitis.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(8):500-506.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Sinusitis.
MedlinePlus.Chronic sinusitis.
MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.
MedlinePlus.COVID-19 Symptoms.
American Lung Association.Learn about primary ciliary dyskinesia.
MedlinePlus.Nasal endoscopy.
MedlinePlus.CT scan.
Sedaghat AR.Chronic rhinosinusitis.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(8):500-506.
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