What are the signs that a sinus infection has spread to the brain? How can a sinus infection lead to serious complications like brain infection. Get the facts on the risks and symptoms to watch out for.

Understanding Sinus Infections and Their Risks

Sinus infections, also known as sinusitis, are a common occurrence, with over 30 million people in the U.S. being diagnosed with the condition each year. These infections occur when the air-filled cavities around the sinuses become inflamed and swollen, leading to a buildup of mucus and difficulty breathing through the nose.

While most sinus infections can be resolved on their own or with over-the-counter treatments, in rare cases, they can potentially spread to the brain. This is an incredibly serious complication that, as evidenced by the tragic case of the 13-year-old boy from Michigan, can even result in death.

How Can a Sinus Infection Spread to the Brain?

There are a few ways in which a sinus infection can potentially spread to the brain, according to medical experts:

1. The infection can pass through small holes at the base of the skull, called foramina, which connect the sinuses to the brain.
2. The infection can spread through the veins located in the skull, traveling from the sinuses to the brain.
3. If the person has suffered some kind of trauma to the area, it could create an additional pathway for the infection to spread.

These scenarios, while possible, are extremely rare. Dr. Alexander Farag, a skull base surgeon and rhinologist, says he only sees cases of sinus infections spreading to the brain once every few months or so.

Recognizing the Symptoms of a Sinus Infection Spreading to the Brain

One of the key symptoms to watch out for is severe, persistent headaches that may feel like migraines. However, there are some distinct differences between sinus headaches and migraines:

• Sinus headaches are often accompanied by other symptoms like congestion, difficulty breathing through the nose, and a reduced sense of smell.
• Sinus headaches tend to be constant, whereas migraines come in episodes.
• Sinus headaches can often be alleviated with the use of nasal decongestants or corticosteroids.

Other concerning symptoms that may indicate the infection has spread to the brain include fever, chills, and changes in mental status or neurological function.

When to Seek Medical Attention for a Sinus Infection

If you are experiencing persistent or worsening symptoms of a sinus infection, it’s important to seek medical attention, even if the infection seems relatively mild. Some key signs that you should see a doctor include:

• Fever
• Symptoms that aren’t improving after a few days
• Severe headaches or changes in vision, hearing, or neurological function

While the risk of a sinus infection spreading to the brain is extremely low, it’s better to err on the side of caution and get the appropriate medical treatment to avoid potentially serious complications.

Preventing the Spread of Sinus Infections

In addition to seeking prompt medical attention for sinus infections, there are also some steps you can take to help prevent the spread of the infection:

1. Practice good hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently.
2. Avoid touching your face, nose, and eyes, as this can transfer germs.
3. Use a saline nasal spray or rinse to help keep your sinuses clear and prevent mucus buildup.
4. If you have chronic or recurring sinus infections, work with your doctor to develop a long-term treatment plan.

By understanding the risks and taking proactive measures, you can help reduce the chances of a sinus infection leading to more serious complications.

Seeking Prompt Medical Attention

In the tragic case of the 13-year-old boy from Michigan, the sinus infection was able to spread to his brain despite emergency surgery. This underscores the importance of seeking prompt medical attention at the first signs of a sinus infection, even if the symptoms seem relatively mild.

If you or a loved one is experiencing severe headaches, changes in neurological function, or other concerning symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider. Early intervention is crucial in preventing the potentially life-threatening spread of a sinus infection to the brain.

A 13-Year-Old Boy Died After a Sinus Infection Spread to His Brain

Earlier this month, news spread of a Michigan family mourning the loss of a 13-year-old boy. Marquel Brumley sought medical attention after developing a cold, sinus infection, and, later, severe migraine-like headaches, Brumley’s aunt, Nicole Alexander, tells SELF. He died at a hospital after the infection reached his brain, according to PEOPLE.

Considering that sinus infections are so common—over 30 million people are diagnosed with sinus infections (aka sinusitis) every year in the U.S.—stories like this can be terrifying. But, as tragic as this story is, complications like these are rare.

Some sinus infections can resolve on their own. But it’s always worth checking in with your doctor to make sure you know what’s really going on.

Your sinuses are four air-filled pockets that are inside the bones of your face and skull, near your nose, per Cedars-Sinai hospital. Each sinus has an opening that connects it to your nose.

When you get a sinus infection (also known as sinusitis), the cavities around your sinuses become inflamed and swollen, interfering with drainage and causing mucus to build up, the Mayo Clinic says. That can make it difficult to breathe through your nose and cause facial pain, swelling around your eyes and face, and headaches.

Sinus infections are often complications of the common cold and other respiratory illnesses, and according to the Mayo Clinic, most people don’t need to see their doctor to treat them. But if you have a fever or your symptoms aren’t getting better after a few days, you should talk to a healthcare professional. Those are signs that you may be dealing with a bacterial infection, so you might need antibiotics to treat it.

Sinus infections are pretty common, but there are a few (rare) ways for them to spread to the brain.

Alexander Farag, M.D., a skull base surgeon, rhinologist, and assistant professor of otolaryngology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, who specializes in this kind of thing, tells SELF that he only sees cases of sinus infections spreading to the brain once every few months or so.

There are a few ways for a sinus infection to spread to the brain. For example, it can pass through the existing pathways in your sinuses and brain through small holes at the base of your skull called foramina, Do-Yeon Cho, M.D., an otolaryngologist and assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, tells SELF.

Additionally, Dr. Cho says the infection can “spread through the veins located in the skull between the sinus and brain.” And if you’ve had some sort of trauma in the area, that could create another pathway for an infection to spread through, he says.

Again, these scenarios all unlikely, but are also “good reason to go get treated if you have the symptoms of a sinus infection,” Joseph DePietro, M.D., an otolaryngologist with ENT and Allergy Associates in Sleepy Hollow, New York, tells SELF.

Severe head pain often comes with a sinus infection. And there are a few distinct ways to tell sinus pain from migraines, Dr. Farag says.

Your biggest clue will be the other symptoms you feel along with your headache. Sinus infections come with congestion (often bright yellow or green snot), make it hard to breathe through your nose, and impair your sense of smell. They can also cause fevers and chills, Dr. Farag says. Also, the the headaches associated with sinusitis tend to be constant, he says. But they’ll improve when you use nasal decongestants or corticosteroids.

Sinus infections can get to your brain—but don’t panic

When I was a little kid and I had a potential sinus infection, my mom (a hypochondriac, though she’ll deny it) would always warn: Watch it, that infection might go to your brain!

It was a useful strategy to get me to go to the doctor. But is it really true? Can a sinus infection actually travel to your noggin?

It does turn out that my mom wasn’t totally off base: The infectious bacteria that infiltrate our sinuses can—VERY RARELY—make its way to the brain. One of these rare occurrences recently made the news: A 13-year-old boy from Michigan died after a persistent sinus infection made its way to the blood vessels inside his brain. Despite emergency surgery to control the infection, he died a few days after being admitted to hospital.

The news is tragic and incredibly scary. But the reason it made the news in the first place is because this was a very unusual case. Consider these statistics: Acute sinusitis, the medical term for a temporary infection of the sinuses, is a type of upper respiratory infection that also includes a stuffed up and inflammed nose, ears, or throat. These ailments are common; a given child in the U.S. will get about five of them every year. More than half of those will come from viruses.

Those infections don’t always reach the sinuses. In fact, sinusitis is considered a complication of a typical viral respiratory illness. Even once a viral infection is in the sinuses, it usually clears up on its own. Here’s where it has the potential to become dangerous: The viral illness inflames and weakens the upper respiratory tract and weakens the immune system. This combo provides the ideal environment for bacteria to come in and take over. But sinus infections caused by bacteria (rather than viruses) only happen in 5 to 8 percent of children with upper respiratory infections and in just 0.5 to 3 percent of adults.

Once you’ve made it into that unlucky group, it’s likely been some time since you got sick; far longer than a typical “head cold” lasts (around five to seven days). At that point the infection is probably causing some severe symptoms. But most doctors follow a watchful approach. Prescribing antibiotics is not usually useful until around the two week period, when bacteria have taken over. At that point, a course of antibiotics usually does the trick.

Okay, now onto the brain. The human body makes a lot of effort to protect the brain from invading pathogens. One of those is something called the blood-brain barrier, which is a semipermeable membrane that allows only select fluids and nutrients to pass through. But, on rare occasion, bacteria can enter as well. Because the sinuses are so close to the brain, on rare occasions an infection there can creep its way through the barrier. The most common of these rare complications is something called subdural empyema, in which pus (a big viscous mass of white blood cells) collects in the space between the outermost membrane of the brain (the dura mater) and the fine middle membrane known as the arachnoid. Once there, the infection can lead to swelling of the brain, seizures, altered mental state, and vomiting.

So, yes, an sinus infection can (rarely) go to your brain, but here’s the thing: It almost never comes out of nowhere, and it always causes symptoms—like an extremely severe headache. If you have an upper respiratory infection that has lasted way longer than it should (more than two weeks) or you have a severe headache or swelling in your face, you should head straight to the ER.

Unfortunately, the Michigan teen in this latest case did visit an urgent care facility, but no one recognized his condition until it had become too severe. The likelihood of succumbing to such an infection is low, but this news is an important reminder that doctors and patients alike should pay close attention to the symptoms of a prolonged infection. Demanding antibiotics a few days into a cold or flu is a big mistake, but so is ignoring painful sinus congestion that lasts for weeks at a time.

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public health

Questions to a psychologist – Psychological service

I don’t know how to live. I am afraid of people, I am afraid of making mistakes, but at the same time I am catastrophically afraid of loneliness. I don `t want to be alone. Loneliness is depressing.. Because of loneliness, I am afraid that I will do more to myself than just cut myself or bring myself to tears.

I feel guilty about my fear of loneliness, because I get the feeling that people are with me only out of ..pity? And I just put pressure on them, if only they were with me .. I feel selfish. Because of this, I still want to die.

I just can’t stop wishing I was dead, it happens on its own. I think about death at home, in the bathroom, in the kitchen, holding a knife, in the store, thinking about how my lifeless body will lie on the counter, under the guise of ordinary lamb, on the street, constantly expecting to be hit by a car, I don’t I will survive and finally fall into such a “desired” eternal sleep.

I can’t stop blaming myself. I blame myself for literally everything. I was abandoned by a person close to me, justifying this by the fact that, they say, he was fed up with my whining … I don’t understand, I didn’t even tell him anything, and if I did, it was brief and small, so that it was clear that the topic was unpleasant to me. .I can’t get over this. My fear of losing someone close to me turned into an addiction, I guess. Because of which I can’t just accept the fact that I’ve been dumped. Forever. I even feel guilty for this, because if I were more understanding, if I just gave up on my feelings … But this is not the point. I can’t even deal with the guilt. I’m afraid of everything. I’m afraid of being rejected, I’m afraid of the future, I’m even afraid to go to my damn school, because there will be people who hate me and who hate me.

Every morning begins with tears and regrets. Every morning begins with a knife slicing bread and thinking about what would happen if I cut open my stomach, or open Vienna, what would happen?

I’m tired of this, these thoughts haunt me. And please don’t think that I’m crazy… I think it’s just another irresistible step..?

I’m even afraid of being judged, I cry all the time, I don’t like it. I try to suppress my emotions just for the comfort of the people around me..

I am afraid of being alone. I do not know what to do.

Answer: Service Consultant

06/26/2023 15:01

Suicidal thoughts and intentions, anxiety, fears

Hello, Veronica!

I want to say right away: no one was going to think that you were crazy. It is unfortunate that you think that the story of your fears, experiences, thoughts about suicide, about death, about getting rid of suffering, immediately makes you crazy in the eyes of others. You shared your experiences with someone who was ready to hear you – this is wonderful. It’s great that you were able to find a way to communicate your emotions and thoughts to another person. I am glad that I can share these experiences with you in some way, I hope that from the fact that you were able to write about them, the pain from them has decreased at least a little.

It seems to me that your main problem, behind which all painful experiences are pulled up, is your conviction that something is wrong with you. That you are doing something wrong. Therefore, you try to adapt to other people so that they are comfortable. Therefore, you feel guilty before everyone for the fact that you, according to your convictions, are not the same as you apparently need to be. It is necessary for everyone else to continue to be with you. For everything that goes wrong, for everything that goes wrong, you blame yourself. Just because of the conviction that something is wrong with you, and not with the situation, with circumstances, with other people. I don’t know how this conviction arose in you, but it spoils your life very much, it changes your reality, fitting all the facts to the fact that you are wrong and nothing more.

In fact, the world consists of all sorts of things. Of the shortcomings, roughness, notches. If you think about it, nothing is right in our world. From the point of view of the cube and the ideal shape of the ball is wrong. There is no ideal in our world. And when in life there is something that is not ideal, this ideal will not come out either. Every person is “wrong” in their own way. Indeed, sometimes thoughts pop up in my head, but “maybe something is wrong with me?”. Everyone succeeds, someone finds his people, someone is not alone. How? And it seems that the answer is “Not like me.” And everyone, absolutely everyone, sometimes thinks so. Because no one knows what is right or wrong. Therefore, there is no right or wrong. There is something special and excellent.

But there is something in common. For example, we are all social animals. We need communication, it is inherent in us by nature. We need it like absolutely everyone needs air. This is a natural need. It is natural to ask for communication, to be listened to and accepted, to be taken care of. You don’t need to feel guilty or feel selfish about what is in your nature. And from the fact that a person is too smart a monkey who can assume a possible future, we can assume not only successful outcomes of our actions, but also negative outcomes. And this is what we are afraid of. It’s okay to be afraid. To be afraid of loneliness for a person is more normal than normal. We’re afraid that we won’t be able to prepare, that we won’t be able to survive, that we won’t be able to cope. And there is a way out – to try to do something.

When you are afraid of loneliness, afraid of the future, afraid of everything, try to think about what you can do if your fear still appears before you. The antidote to loneliness is communication, the antidote to fear of the future is living in the present, fear of everything is love of everything, fear of loss is hope of gain. You are afraid to be different in communication, you are afraid, after you have been thrown, to show feelings and emotions, because one person considered it “whining”. But there are people who don’t think so. They just need to be found. If you do not have self-confidence in communication, you can read the literature on communication skills, learn from it the knowledge of how to behave with people. If you have anxiety about the future, focus on what is around you right now.

It is not all your fault that a loved one left you. This could be the circumstances of time, place, characters. Don’t be afraid to show your feelings and share your feelings. Then you can find just the person who will listen to them, who will match you in this parameter. Suppressing your emotions to be with someone just to make them feel comfortable makes you feel bad, your need to be heard isn’t being met, and that’s what makes you lonely. From the fact that you are in pain, you cry a lot (although in general, tears, of course, are good).

I noticed that throughout the text of the appeal you often use the word “even” as if trying to show that all the problems and feelings that you face are trifles that even a child can handle, and you can’t cope “even with this and this. ” What you are experiencing, what is happening to you are not trifles. The fact that it is still difficult for you to cope with difficulties does not mean that this “insurmountable step” cannot be overcome. Everest is also a rather insurmountable step. But there are daredevils. They step over the impossible, you know how? Gradually.

Explore the issue of communication skills. Look, ask around, how other people deal with this problem? (Here I can add personal experience: I was afraid to seem strange in communication, I was afraid to say some stupidity, but I decided for myself that if this cannot be avoided, that I will still be an eccentric, then why not do it on purpose. , let them stay away, reject me, and I will find those who think “weird me” is cool and be with them). Look for people with similar interests, you may have a lot in common, this will save you from feeling alienated and alone. Among the 8 billion variations of human qualities, there are those that suit you and for which you are suitable. I’m sure.

It is impossible to predict everything, but I can say for sure that insurmountable steps are overcome. Not right away. With time, with effort, but you are stronger than you think.

In the last words, I would like to thank you for being with me for a while, albeit in a virtual format. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I hope that you will be able to find a person who in the future will be able to listen to you if necessary.

Sincerely, Maria.

Chronic sinusitis treatment in adults

Paranasal
sinuses are four paired cavities in the bones of the skull, which are connected to
nasal cavity through narrow channels. Allocate ethmoid, wedge-shaped, frontal and
maxillary sinuses. The mucous membrane of the sinuses works as a system
filtration, keeping the nose clean and free of bacteria. The cavity formed
sinuses, also works as a resonator, giving color to the voice.

Chronic
sinusitis (or chronic rhinosinusitis) is an inflammatory disease of one
or several paranasal sinuses, which is permanent.

Due to
what causes chronic sinusitis?

Reasons
chronic sinusitis may be one or a combination of the following:

• Infection (bacterial, viral or fungal).
  Chronic sinusitis may be due to acute sinusitis
• Polyps
  paranasal sinuses)
• Presence of allergic rhinitis, bronchial
  asthma, cystic fibrosis
• Infection of the teeth of the upper jaw (odontogenic
  sinusitis)
• Anatomical disorders in the nasal cavity
• Immunodeficiency conditions

What
symptoms of chronic sinusitis?

• Heaviness or pressure in the face (around
  nose, eyes and forehead)
• Nasal discharge (usually thick yellow
  or green) or mucus running down the back of the throat
• Nasal congestion
• Toothache, headache
• Disturbance of smell and taste

Most severe
the severity of symptoms may be in the initial stage, if the disease
occurs due to acute sinusitis. Then they can weaken and then again
intensify. With polyposis sinusitis, the disease may begin with a slight difficulty
nasal breathing and decreased sense of smell with subsequent progression of symptoms.
For a diagnosis of chronic sinusitis, symptoms must be present in
for more than 12 weeks.

How
diagnosed with chronic sinusitis?

Usually
The diagnosis of chronic sinusitis is based on symptoms. The doctor will ask
a series of questions to determine the presence of factors capable of causing the disease.
The doctor will also perform nasal endoscopy with evaluation of all intranasal
structures (painless examination with a thin instrument with a camera).
The gold standard for diagnosis is computed tomography of paranasal
sinuses (and sometimes magnetic resonance imaging), which allows for detailed
evaluate all structures.

How
Is chronic sinusitis being treated?

• Topical glucocorticosteroids (nasal
  spray). Recommended for all types of chronic sinusitis, as they
  help reduce inflammation. As a rule, this is a long course. Sometimes when
  severe symptoms, a course of systemic glucocorticosteroids may be offered
  (tablets or injections).
• Antibiotics. Appointed if the doctor
  confident in the bacterial etiology of the disease. Short courses available
  exacerbations) or prolonged (3-4 weeks)
• Biologicals (monoclonal
  antibodies). It is the most modern and effective treatment for certain
  type of polyposis rhinosinusitis.
• Avoidance of triggers and treatment
  underlying disease (for example, allergies).
• Surgical treatment. Shown subject to availability
  obvious anomalies of the nasal cavity, formations (large cysts, mucocele, pyocele,
  fungal bodies), infection of the upper teeth, spreading into the sinus, the presence
  resistant to conservative treatment of polypous sinusitis, resistant
  infections.

How is the preparation for the operation?

If medical treatment has been previously administered and has not been effective, there is no need for special
preparation for the operation.

If chronic sinusitis has not been treated with medication, but there is reason to believe
the effectiveness of this method, the doctor may suggest a preliminary
course of such treatment.

If a complication of sinusitis develops, surgery is performed
for urgent indications.

How is the operation going?

The operation is performed under the general
anesthesia. ENT surgeon under the control of an endoscope (thin optical device with
displaying the image on the screen)
opening of the affected sinuses. Depending on the extent of the pathology, the volume
surgical treatment can be different: from the minimum (for example, one
maxillary sinus) to the maximum (opening of all sinuses on both sides). IN
at the end of the operation, small tampons are placed in the nasal cavity for one day
to prevent bleeding. The patient can usually breathe through them.
(if there was no intervention on the nasal septum or turbinates).

Postoperative
period and recovery

The operation does not cause bruising
or swelling of the external nose and face. The next day, the ENT surgeon removes the tampons
from the nasal cavity. For two to three weeks after surgery, nasal breathing may
be difficult, there may be a small amount of discharge. Recommended
the period of incapacity for work is about 3 days. In the postoperative
period, it is not recommended to play sports, visit a bath or sauna.

After the operation, the surgeon will invite you to
several postoperative examinations to clean the nasal cavity.

What are the risks of surgery?

• Anesthesia.
  Depending on the type of anesthesia used, patients may experience
  reaction. This is extremely rare so it is important to discuss your personal risk with
  an anesthesiologist.
• Infection.
  Rarely, patients may develop an infection after sinus surgery.
  This is usually treated with antibiotics.
• Bleeding.
  In rare cases, as a rule, if recommendations are not followed, patients may
  be episodes of epistaxis in the postoperative period. Before the operation
  investigations are underway to minimize this risk. After discharge, the surgeon
  instructs what action to take in the event of a
  bleeding.
• Trauma
  adjacent structures. Anatomically, the orbit and the base of the skull are located close
  to the structures of the nasal cavity. In rare cases, due to anatomical abnormalities,
  volumetric process or tissues destroyed by the pathological process, possibly
  damage to the orbit and base of the skull during surgery. Most
  cases, it does not require additional interventions and heals on its own.
  Very rarely, this requires additional plastic surgery, which is performed during
  operations.
• Necessity
  in a repeat operation. In rare cases (for example, with a cicatricial process), it is required
  repeated operation to restore the patency of the sinus fistulas.
• Local
  reactions. Sometimes there may be local reactions to ointments, drugs,
  used during and after surgery. This rarely happens, but it can happen
  place. If you are allergic to certain substances, you should discuss
  this question with your surgeon and anesthesiologist.

Answers to questions that our patients often ask during their appointments
Total.

Can
Does chronic sinusitis go away on its own?

Unlikely. Most people who have symptoms
diseases last more than 12 weeks, have a cause that requires
treatment.

Possibly
Is it possible to treat chronic sinusitis without antibiotics?

Yes,
Maybe. We use antibiotics only if the cause is
bacterial infection. In other cases, it is necessary to identify and treat
main reason. Sometimes only steroid sprays can help.

Possibly
Is it possible to treat chronic sinusitis without surgery?

Yes,
Maybe. Surgical treatment is carried out only according to indications, including
with the ineffectiveness of medical treatment.

How much
How long does it take to treat chronic sinusitis?

This
depends on the cause of the disease. For example, with anatomical
anomalies, a positive effect can be obtained after the operation. If the disease
caused by an infection, it will take time to heal after surgery. With polyposis
it is important to rationally combine surgical and conservative treatment, which
can sometimes be lengthy.

There are
Are there complications of chronic sinusitis?

The pathological process can spread
on nearby anatomical structures: the eye, brain, bones, and
also through the blood or lymph to distant structures. Complications are
indication for emergency hospitalization and surgical treatment.

Can
can a person die from chronic sinusitis?

Die from the most chronic sinusitis
impossible. However, this is quite likely due to the complications it causes.
For example, the spread of infection to the brain, the development of meningitis can lead to
lethal outcome. Such a development of events is a rarity.

May
Does Chronic Sinusitis Cause Cancer?

Chronic sinusitis does not cause cancer. However, on
early stage sinus cancer can mimic symptoms
chronic sinusitis.