This article will explain how allergic sinusitis occurs and how it can be treated.
Sinusitis is an inflammation in the nose. It is often caused by an allergy. It is characterized by a large amount of mucus in the nose which can flow either out of the nose or in the throat causing irritation of the throat and coughing
Symptoms of Sinusitis
- nasal congestion
- facial pain
- headache
- dizziness
- an increase in asthma symptoms
- bad mood
- night-time coughing
- green or yellow discharge
- feeling of facial tightness or fullness that may worsen when bending over
- aching teeth
- halitosis
There are two types of sinusitis: chronic and acute. The acute is often caused by a virus, whereas the chronic is more often allergy related. This is when the symptoms last for more than eight weeks.
Causes for Allergy Related Sinusitis
Allergies that can cause allergic sinusitis are mostly breathable allergens like pollen, dust mite and animal dander. It is also possible to get symptoms from inhaling chemicals that you are allergic to. Tobacco smoke is a reason for many cases of sinusitis.
Treatment
Sinusitis due to allergies can be treated both with home remedies and medications.
Nasal irritation is one way to treat the symptoms of the allergy. This helps to clean the nasal passages and helps to flush out bacteria that is contained in the mucus in the nose.
Decongestant nasal sprays can help to ease the build up of the mucus in the nose. These should not be used for long periods of time because they can cause a symptom called rebound sinusitis, which is a condition, which comes about because the nose dries too much due to the medicine. The nose fights drying by increasing production of mucus in the nose.
In addition, sinusitis can be treated with inhaled or topical steroids or even surgery. The drawbacks related to these treatments often outweigh the benefits. This is why more conservative treatment is usually preferable.
