Sinusitis

Editor: V. Dimov, M.D., Allergist/Immunologist, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Clinical Associate Professor, FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

Sinusitis means your sinuses are inflamed. This can be caused can be an infection or another problem. Your sinuses are hollow air spaces within the bones surrounding the nose. Sinuses make mucus, which drains into the nose. If your nasal lining is swollen, this can block the sinuses and cause pain.

There are several types of sinusitis:

- Acute, lasts up to 1 month
- Subacute, lasts 1 to 3 months
- Chronic, lasts longer than 3 months
- Recurrent, with more than 3 attacks per year



Sinusitis - different causes and management (click to enlarge the image).

How to use a nasal spray (video)
How to use a saline sinus rinse (video)

Sinusitis has a huge impact in the US as it affects 16% of the population. More outpatient antibiotic prescriptions are given for sinusitis than any other diagnosis.

What to expect when visiting an allergy clinic

Current allergy skin tests are virtually painless. This video by Dr. Bassett, a board-certified allergist from New York City, shows what to expect when visiting an allergy clinic for diagnosis and treatment:



Published: 07/28/2007
Updated: 01/22/2019

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