Sinus Infection (Sinititis)

Based on the severity of the sinus, it can be treated in various ways. Let’s have a look.

1. Home Remedies

Some home remedies beneficial for the prevention of sinus infections are: 

• Humidifier: Place it in a room for cleaning the air. It will help you in easing sinus pain.
• Steam Vapours Inhalation: Steam therapy helps in soothing sinus pain. Steam nasal therapy helps to open up congested and swollen nasal passages.  
• Warm Towel Usage: Placing a warm wet towel on the face helps in relieving the pressure from the face.
• Nasal Saline Solution: Use salt water to keep the nasal passage moist. You can use salt water for nasal irrigation, which helps to clear out the mucus and make your sinuses moist.
• Drink lots of Fluids: Keep yourself hydrated. It helps to reduce sinuses blockage.
• Rest: Proper rest is necessary for your recovery. Taking proper sleep helps our body to recover from illness. It helps boost our immune system.

2. Medications for Acute Sinus Infection

A healthcare professional may recommend medication as the first line of treatment that helps to relieve sinusitis symptoms. It includes:

• Saline Nasal Spray: It is used for opening up the nasal passages, several times a day.
• Nasal Corticosteroids: These corticosteroid nasal sprays are used to prevent and treat inflammation for acute or chronic conditions. Examples include:
• Fluticasone (Flonase Allergy Relief, Flonase Sensimist Allergy Relief, others)
• Budesonide (Rhinocort Allergy)
• Mometasone (Nasonex) 
• Beclomethasone (Beconase AQ, Qnasl, others)
• Decongestants: Mostly available as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in the form of prescription liquids, tablets, and nasal sprays. It is used for a few days, depending on the condition. Other OTC pain relievers are:
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others)
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) 
• Aspirin

An individual should use these medications with caution, particularly in the case of children or teenagers. Aspirin is not good for children or teenagers who are recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms. It may cause Reye's syndrome, a rare and fatal condition.

3. Medications for Chronic Sinusitis

• Saline Nasal Irrigation with Nasal Sprays or Solutions: Helps to reduce blockage and remove irritants and allergies from nasal walls.
• Oral or Injected Corticosteroids: To treat the inflammation of severe sinus infection, especially in nasal polyps. Oral corticosteroids are consumed to relieve their symptoms but can cause serious side effects for prolonged usage.
• Aspirin Desensitization Treatment: If an individual undergoes reactions to aspirin that cause sinusitis. Under medical supervision, larger doses of aspirin are to be given to the patients for enhancing tolerance.

4. Antibiotics

Most antibiotics are prescribed in case of chronic sinus infection. But, if the acute infection is bacterial then a doctor may recommend antibiotics to combat the infection.

However, severe, progressive, or persistent symptoms might require antibiotics. Symptoms may recur if the patients don’t complete the specific course of antibiotics.

(Note: Take medications only after it is prescribed by your doctor)

5. Immunotherapy

It is used for acute or chronic conditions. If allergies are causing sinusitis, immunotherapy is implemented that helps to reduce the body's reaction to specific allergens that might improve the condition.

6. Surgery

When an individual becomes resistant to treatment or medication, endoscopic sinus surgery might be another treatment of choice. During this procedure, the doctor will handle the endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with an attached light) to check the sinus passages.

Depending on the source of the blockage, the doctor might use various instruments to remove tissue or a polyp that's causing the nasal blockage. Enlargement of a narrow sinus opening may promote drainage.