Pay Close Attention to Symptoms to Determine if Cause is Sinus Infection or Allergies

• By

  Shawn Bishop

  April 12, 2013

April 12, 2013

Dear Mayo Clinic:

I have long suffered from allergies. But there have been times when I haven’t been sure if my symptoms are really from my allergies or may be caused by a sinus infection instead. How can I tell the difference?

Answer:

Allergies and sinus infections are often mistaken for one another. But they are two separate conditions. By paying close attention to the specific symptoms you have, you can usually identify which one is more likely to be causing the problem.

A sinus infection, also called sinusitis, affects the cavities around your nasal passages. The infection causes your sinuses to become inflamed and swollen. The swelling makes it hard for your sinuses to drain, and mucus builds up. You become congested and have trouble breathing through your nose. Sinusitis often causes thick yellow or green nasal discharge. A sore throat, cough or headache, as well as pressure or tenderness around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead, may also accompany sinusitis.

In most cases, viruses cause sinusitis. These viral infections usually go away on their own within a week to 10 days. Self-care measures such as extra rest and fluids along with over-the-counter pain relievers and decongestants can help. When sinusitis is caused by bacteria, the infection may not require treatment, either. But if it is persistent or severe, then antibiotics — such as amoxicillin, doxycycline and others — may be used to treat the infection.

Allergies can produce many of the same cold-like symptoms as a sinus infection, including sinus pressure, a runny nose and congestion. But the condition itself, called allergic rhinitis, is different. It is caused by an allergic response to allergens, such as pollen, dust mites or pet dander. This reaction happens when your immune system releases chemicals, such as histamine, into your bloodstream. These immune system chemicals lead to your allergy symptoms.

One of the key ways to tell if you are experiencing allergic rhinitis is if you have itchy, watery eyes along with your other symptoms. Itchiness is rarely a symptom of a sinus infection. Another way to tell the difference is if you have very thick yellow or green nasal discharge. That is more likely a symptom of a sinus infection.

If you have seasonal allergies triggered by pollen or spores, then the timing of your symptoms may help you decide if they are likely caused by allergies. For example, tree pollen is most common in the spring. Grass pollen is common in late spring and early summer, while ragweed pollen is prevalent in the fall. Mold and fungi spores are usually more plentiful in warm-weather months. The seasons for these allergens may be different, though, depending on the region of the country where you live.

Over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines, can be quite effective in relieving allergy symptoms. If you are regularly bothered by allergies, ask your doctor if a prescription nasal corticosteroid may be right for you. These nasal sprays help prevent and treat nasal inflammation and congestion, while antihistamines treat the itching and runny nose that allergies can cause.

Nasal corticosteroids can be particularly helpful if you have seasonal allergies and use them just as the allergy symptoms begin. That’s because when the season first starts, you need a lot of the allergen to cause symptoms. But as symptoms progress, lower amounts of allergen produce more symptoms. By starting the medication early, you might be able to diminish this effect and reduce your symptoms throughout the entire allergy season.

If you suspect your nasal congestion and other symptoms are the result of sinus problems rather than allergies, you may just need to be patient, take care of yourself and use over-the-counter medications as needed until the infection clears. However, if symptoms last for more than two weeks, or if they are severe, make an appointment to see your doctor.

— Juan Guarderas, M.D., Otorhinolaryngology and Allergy, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla.

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Are My Watery Eyes and Runny Nose Allergies or Sinusitis? | Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery

Article posted on May 31, 2019 by Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery

Up and down the Willamette Valley, people are sneezing and coughing.

The fertile beauty of the valley comes with a price: excessive pollen production in the springtime.

But it turns out your symptoms might not be related to allergies at all.

Spring is well underway now in Oregon and across the U.S.

Unfortunately, many people are experiencing the seasonal onslaught of springtime allergies…or at least they think they are.

In many cases, the symptoms attributed to allergies are actually the result of chronic sinus infections.

Learning to tell them apart can result in quicker relief.

Distinguishing Between Allergies & Sinus Infections

Somewhere between 40-50 million Americans experience seasonal allergies.

Salem residents complain of itchiness in the eyes, nose and throat; watery eyes; nasal congestion; runny nose; coughing; sneezing; hoarseness; post-nasal drip; irritability and fatigue.

These are your body’s defense mechanism against allergens.

But these symptoms are also very similar to those associated with sinusitis, a chronic infection of the sinuses that affects 37 million Americans every year.

If efforts at treating your symptoms have failed to bring relief, it may be that you have misdiagnosed yourself.

Short of paying a visit to a Salem ear, nose and throat specialist, the best way to determine the cause of your symptoms is to take note of when and how often you experience them.

If you are allergic to something, symptoms usually come on shortly after contact and are more likely to occur during the spring or fall.

Pollen, molds and animal dander are the most common allergy triggers.

If your symptoms appear soon after you’ve recovered from a cold or allergies, it’s likely you are suffering from sinusitis.

In addition to the above-listed symptoms, sinusitis is often accompanied by facial pain and pressure.

Allergies are less severe during certain weather conditions (such as rainy days) and when you remain inside the home, while sinusitis symptoms aren’t likely to let up and often persist for longer than 12 weeks.

Symptom Relief for Sinusitis and Allergies

Your Salem ENT says the first line of defense against allergies is to try over-the-counter drugs first.

If these do not prove helpful, stronger prescription medications may be required.

In the even that even these don’t provide relief, immunotherapy – a long-term treatment designed to help your body build up a tolerance to the offending allergen – might be advised.

Allergy shots or drugs help many Oregonians with allergies develop immunity, but they take time – three to five years to become fully effective, on average.

OTC medications are also suggested early on for sinusitis sufferers. Antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays and corticosteroids can all help reduce the severity of symptoms.

Home remedies such as warm compresses and humidifiers may also help bring relief.

If Sinus Treatment is Ineffective

When these treatments prove ineffective, your best bet may be surgery.

There are two common surgical sinus procedures; the type recommended for you will depend upon the severity of your symptoms and whether or not you have any structural issues (nasal polyps, deviated septum) that are contributing to your problems.

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery, or FESS, involves insertion of a thin, flexible tool outfitted with a tiny camera lens into your nasal passages.

Images are transmitted to your surgeon, who will remove any blockages that are causing obstruction.

Balloon Sinuplasty is a less-invasive procedure that doesn’t require cutting or removal of tissue or bone.

A catheter with an affixed balloon is guided into the nasal cavity and gently inflated.

This widens the cavity and allows accumulated fluids to drain.

If “allergies” have got you down this spring and medications aren’t providing relief, contact your Salem ENT doctor for an appointment.

They’ll be able to provide you with a firm diagnosis and a treatment solution to ease your suffering.

Related Ear, Nose & Throat Posts:

• Allergies & the Immune System
• When Should You See An ENT?
• Protruding Ears: Overcoming the Stigma

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symptoms, signs and methods of treatment in Moscow at the Center for Surgery “SM-Clinic”

Fungal body of the paranasal sinuses: symptoms, signs and methods of treatment in Moscow at the Center for Surgery “SM-Clinic”

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Description of the disease

Fungal body of the paranasal sinus, or mycetoma, is an inflammatory disease of the paranasal sinuses provoked by fungi. Fungi of the genus Aspergillus are the most common pathogens.

The fungal body is formed by aspergillus colonies. Outwardly, it resembles a ball of 1 mm in diameter, consisting of an amorphous substance (like plasticine) of gray-black or gray-yellow color. Colonies are formed inside the paranasal sinus when a fungal spore enters its mucous membrane.

Every day a person comes into contact with a huge number of microorganisms, including fungi. Aspergillus spores are released into the air from decaying organic material. Under certain conditions, their concentration in the air can be very high. However, during normal functioning of the immune system, pathogens are not able to penetrate the body cavities. This is possible with serious immune disorders or with a decrease in the protective functions of the mucous membranes as a result of their damage.

According to morphological parameters, the fungal body of the sinus is one of the forms of mycotic sinusitis. The disease is characterized by a sluggish, often asymptomatic course, and is manifested by nonspecific signs. In advanced cases, fungal colonies fill the entire sinus and can even spread to other parts of the respiratory system, including the lungs.

The disease is associated with a low risk of complications. Only in the presence of severe concomitant pathologies and immune disorders, the pathogen can penetrate into the systemic circulation and spread throughout the body, which leads to the emergence of secondary foci. In severe situations, aspergillus is able to penetrate into the brain, provoking the formation of abscesses.

Species

Fungal sinusitis can occur in two forms:

• invasive, when pathogens penetrate tissues, destroying them;
• is non-invasive, while fungal colonies grow on the surface of tissues without penetrating deep (this is the type of fungal body).

Invasive fungal infections can develop at lightning speed, leading to serious consequences, or proceed chronically, gradually destroying tissues. The fungal body of the paranasal sinus, due to the oligosymptomatic course, may remain undiagnosed for several years of its existence.

Symptoms

At the beginning of development, the fungal body of the paranasal sinus does not manifest itself clinically. As the number of fungi increases, the activity of the inflammatory process increases. The patient may experience unilateral nasal congestion, discharge from one nostril may appear. The nature of the pathological secret can be different – watery, mucous, purulent or curdled.

With an increase in the size of the fungal body inside the sinus, pressure increases, which is manifested by uncomfortable sensations in the area of ​​​​the projection of the sinus and orbits. Symptoms of secondary sinusitis are possible – a feeling of fullness, purulent discharge, loss of smell, nasal voice, etc.

Causes

Fungal spores can be aerogenically spread and germinate in the sinuses when a person is in an environment in which the air contains high concentrations of the pathogen for a long time (for example, when working in grain, vegetable warehouses and other similar enterprises). Fungal sinusitis is most susceptible to people with a state of immunosuppression, which is observed in malignant tumors, HIV infection, exhaustion of the body, endocrine disorders, diabetes mellitus, etc.

Much more often, the fungal body of the sinus occurs after unsuccessful dental treatment of the upper teeth (from canines to 3 molars). The fact is that the periodontium of the tops of the roots of the teeth and the sinus mucosa are separated by a thin bone plate, and sometimes the roots of the teeth penetrate into the sinus cavity. During treatment at the dentist, the instrument can penetrate into the sinus. The perforation of the filling material into the sinus is not excluded, since often when fungal masses are removed, filling particles are found among them. The damaged mucosa cannot fully resist pathogens, resulting in favorable conditions for the development of fungal inflammation.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of the fungal body of the sinus begins with a survey of the patient, collecting complaints and anamnesis. At the next stage, anterior and posterior rhinoscopy is performed, during which the condition of the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity is determined. Computed tomography is performed to assess the structure of the accessory sinuses. The fungal body is visualized on the pictures as a blackout focus with a granular structure, often with a radiopaque element in the center (filling). According to tomograms, it is possible to determine the localization and prevalence of education.

Methods of treatment

The fungal body of the paranasal sinus is treated exclusively by surgery. Antifungal drugs of local and systemic action are ineffective in mycetoma. First, an operation is performed to remove the fungal masses, then drug treatment is prescribed.

Surgical treatment

To remove the fungal body, a low-traumatic endoscopic maxillary sinusectomy is performed. During the intervention, an endoscope (a special instrument equipped with an optical system, a light bulb, and a channel for instruments) is inserted into the nasal cavity. At the first stage of the operation, the doctor expands the anastomosis (the natural opening through which the sinus communicates with the nasal cavity). Next, the endoscope is inserted into the sinus cavity, examined, and using miniature surgical instruments, the fungal body is carefully separated from the mucosa. At the end of the operation, the cavity is washed with antifungal agents.

After endoscopic sinusotomy, no scars remain on the face, because. all manipulations are performed through natural openings (nasal passages and sinus fistulas).

Conservative treatment

Performed only after surgery. Its task is to prevent the recurrence of the disease and to correct the identified violations.

Prevention

To avoid the development of fungal sinusitis, it is necessary to treat diseases of the upper respiratory tract in a timely manner, as well as to engage in general improvement of the body and strengthening the immune system. If you need to stay in an environment with a high concentration of fungal spores, you must use personal protective equipment.

Medical expert opinion

Rehabilitation

The rehabilitation period lasts 1-3 weeks, depending on the degree of damage to the sinus and the volume of the operation.

At the recovery stage, it is recommended to regularly carry out hygiene of the nasal cavity, to abandon intensive sports, excessive physical exertion and thermal procedures.

Question and answer

An otorhinolaryngologist deals with the diagnosis and treatment of pathology.

The disease is not considered particularly dangerous, but the presence of potentially pathogenic fungi in the body increases the risk of possible complications. Therefore, surgical intervention is recommended to be carried out in a planned manner as soon as possible after diagnosis.

No. It is necessary to eliminate fungal colonies surgically and then carry out treatment aimed at preventing relapse. Otherwise, at the end of drug therapy, the fungus will continue to develop further.

Sources

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Runny nose rhinitis – how to cure?

Contents:

• Risk of chronic rhinitis
• Medical treatment of the common cold
• Actions in case of a runny nose

Runny nose and methods of treatment

Runny nose, or scientific rhinitis, is now becoming a real threat to the normal existence of mankind. The causes of a runny nose are different. This includes immunity weakened as a result of a passive lifestyle, an unfavorable environment, exposure to allergens – plant pollen, animal hair, exposure to synthetic substances. The result is always the same – inflammation of the nasal mucosa, discharge and watery eyes, general malaise.

It should be understood that rhinitis is not a disease. Manifestations of a runny nose are a symptom that the body is being attacked by harmful foreign elements – infection, cold air, dust, allergens. In this case, the nose acts as the first protective barrier on the way of harmful factors into the internal organs. At the same time, the mucus secreted by the nose is aggressive towards undesirable, “foreign” elements.

Most people treat the common cold with disdain, believing that the symptoms will go away on their own. It is believed that rhinitis cannot lead to death or disability. This is a dangerous delusion. In fact, a minor runny nose sometimes leads to the most severe complications, a hospital bed, disability. Of course, sometimes a healthy body copes with rhinitis on its own, usually within a week. But this is more the exception than the rule.

It should be understood that not every sneeze or any discharge from the nose is a threat to the body. Liquid discharge from the nose, or the so-called snot, is a normal reaction of the body to harmful external factors. The mucous secretions contain interferon and lasocymin – substances that fight infection. In a normal state, the body is able to produce these substances in the required amount.

It is not watery discharge that should cause concern, but thickened and dried mucus, which is a sign that the body can no longer cope with a bacterial infection on its own. It is very important not to miss this moment and start fighting the infection immediately.

Risk of chronic rhinitis

Prolonged discharge or persistent nasal congestion is a serious threat. This is usually a harbinger of possible complications, the flow of a common cold into a dangerous disease, most often sinusitis. Sinusitis is when one or more of the paranasal sinuses become inflamed. According to the site of inflammation, the following varieties are distinguished:

Sinusitis – a lesion of the maxillary nasal cavity. Manifestations of the disease with this variety are headache in the forehead, difficulty breathing through the nose, fever, chills and fever. Untimely treatment leads the state of the disease from the acute phase to chronic sinusitis. Signs of chronic sinusitis are persistent headaches.

Frontitis – damage to the frontal sinus. In this case, edema occurs in the sinus, purulent processes may occur. External manifestations of frontal sinusitis are severe headaches, nasal discharge with an unpleasant odor, respiratory failure, eye pain.

Ethmoiditis is usually characterized by inflammation of the frontal and maxillary sinuses. Typical manifestations of ethmoiditis are constant pain in the bridge of the nose at the base of the nose, general headache, swelling of the eyelids. Often manifestations of pain of a neuralgic nature. Discharge passing from serous to purulent.

Sphenoiditis is a more complex phase of ethmoiditis. In this phase, the inflammation reaches the back of the cribriform labyrinth. In this case, the headache is localized in the parietal part of the head, inside it, on the back of the head and in the orbit. Purulent discharge drains to the inside of the nasopharynx.

From the above, we can conclude that the consequences of ordinary, prolonged rhinitis can be the most terrible. Therefore, at the first sign of a protracted runny nose, you should consult a doctor.

Treatment of the common cold with drugs

Usually, most people try to get rid of the common cold on their own, using various various “fashionable”, widely advertised remedies. The effect of such treatment is usually zero and there is a negative result. As a result, the disease only develops. It must be remembered that if the disease is the result of a cold, then you will not find effective medicines on your own.

Conventional antibiotics, so loved by many, can only fight bacteria. They are powerless against viruses. Do not abuse folk remedies and methods. However, everything is not so sad. Modern pharmacology provides a large selection of drugs for the common cold. The so-called vasoconstrictor drops are very effective, which reduce swelling of the nasal mucosa and facilitate breathing. The use of such drops is indicated at the stage of thickening of mucous secretions.

Please consult your doctor.

Such drops are taken no more than 3 times a day, the duration of administration is no more than 5-7 days. Long-term use of the drug leads to addiction, the body requires increasing doses to affect the edema. In this case, the body loses the ability to independently secrete protective enzymes. More sparing are the so-called drops with essential oils. They can be used for a long time.

It must be remembered that the above remedies fight the symptoms of the disease, they do not treat the cause itself. Effective treatment of the common cold fights the cause of the disease. Any medicine should be used only as prescribed by a doctor.

Actions in the event of a runny nose

At the first symptoms of the disease, use folk remedies. For most cases, this is sufficient. If after three days the symptoms do not disappear, it is possible to take immunomodulators.