Sinusitis is inflammation of the paranasal sinuses that can be acute or chronic. Acute sinusitis lasts less than 4 weeks and is usually caused by a viral infection leading to secondary bacterial infection when the sinus defenses are breached. It can be caused by infections, swimming/bathing, trauma, or general diseases. The osteomeatal complex is an important drainage site that when blocked can cause bacterial sinusitis. Treatment involves antibiotics, nasal decongestants, antihistamines, and anti-inflammatories while surgery is rarely needed and complications are common.

1. Sinusitis Dr. T. Balasubramanian

3. Can be classified into acute and chronic

4. Allergic & infective types

5. Pan sinusitis is the term used to indicate inflammation of all the paranasal sinusesdrtbalu

7. Infection is said to be closed if the inflammatory exudate cannot escape from the sinus because of blocked ostium or viscous secretion

10. Swiming / bathing

11. Trauma to paranasal sinuses

13. Pharyngeal infections

15. Chemical rhinitis

17. Foreign bodies involving sinuses

19. Measles

20. Whooping cough

22. Low resistence to infections

23. Over crowding

24. Anatomical obstructions

25. Conditions like Kartagener's syndrome

27. Bounded by middle turbinate medially, basal lamella posteriorly and superiorly and lamina papyracea laterally

28. It drains anteriorly and inferiorly

30. Bacteria include – Pneumococci, streptococci, staphylococci, H influenzae, E coli, Micrococcus

32. Exudative stage

33. Suppurative stage

34. Stage of complications

36. History should be strongly suggestive of bacterial sinusitis

38. Facial fullness & congestion

39. Nasal congestion & obstruction

40. Purulent nasal discharge / post nasal drip

41. Hyposmia / anosmia

43. Halitosis

44. Fatigue

45. Cough

46. Dental pain

50. Ethmoidal pain – Over bridge of nose, and inner canthus of eye. May be referred to parietal eminence

51. Frontal sinus pain – Localized to forehead. Shows classic periodicity

53. Swelling over lower eyelids / upper eyelids

54. Swelling over inner canthus of eye

55. Tenderness over affected sinus

57. Culture sensitivity

59. Antibiotics

60. Nasal decongestants

61. Anti histamines

62. Anti inflammatory drugs

64. Orbital cellulitis

65. Orbital abscess formation

66. Intracranial complications – cavernous sinus thrombosis, meningitis, and intracranial abscess

67. Ch sinusitis

68. Middle ear infections

69. Laryngitis, oroantral fistula, mucoceles