Allergies

DIAGNOSIS

Because your nose can get stuffy when you have a condition like the common cold, you may confuse simple nasal congestion with sinusitis. A cold, however, usually lasts about 7 to 14 days and disappears without treatment. Acute sinusitis often lasts longer and typically causes more symptoms than just a cold.

Your health care provider can usually diagnose acute sinusitis by listening to your symptoms and doing a physical examination, which includes examining your nasal tissues. If your symptoms are vague or persist, your health care provider may order a CT (computed tomography) scan to confirm that you have sinusitis.

Laboratory tests to diagnose chronic sinusitis may include

• Blood tests to rule out other conditions associated with sinusitis like an immune deficiency disorder or cystic fibrosis
• Cultures (special blood tests) to detect bacterial or fungal infection
• Biopsy to determine the health of the cells lining the nasal cavity

TREATMENT

After diagnosing sinusitis and identifying a possible cause, your health care provider can suggest treatments that will reduce your inflammation and relieve your symptoms.

Acute sinusitis

If you have acute sinusitis, your health care provider may recommend

• Decongestants to reduce congestion
• Antibiotics to control a bacterial infection, if present
• Pain relievers to reduce any pain

You should, however, use over-the-counter or prescription decongestant nose drops and sprays for only few days. If you use these medicines for longer periods, they can lead to even more congestion and swelling of your nasal passages.

If bacteria cause your sinusitis, antibiotics used along with a nasal or oral decongestant will usually help. Your health care provider can prescribe an antibiotic that fights the type of bacteria most commonly associated with sinusitis.

Many cases of acute sinusitis will end without antibiotics. If you have allergic disease along with sinusitis, however, you may need medicine to relieve your allergy symptoms. If you already have asthma and then get sinusitis, you may experience worsening of your asthma and should be in close touch with your health care provider.

In addition, your health care provider may prescribe a steroid nasal spray, along with other treatments, to reduce your sinus congestion, swelling, and inflammation.

Chronic sinusitis