Sinus Infection Symptoms and Effective Treatments
A sinus infection or sinusitis refers to the condition whereby there is constant swelling of the mucosa. The mucosa is a thin membranous tissue that lines the nasal passages and sinuses. It normally comes on when one seems to be recovering from the common cold or viral influenza. But allergies also play a big part in sinus infections.
Sinus infection symptoms which are common:
1. Pain and tenderness in the forehead, cheeks and between the eyes.
2. More pronounced post nasal drip.
3. Frequent coughing though the lungs are clear.
5. Blocked and clogged up nose.
6. Yellowish/green or thick glue-like mucus discharge
7. Pain the the molars of the upper jaw.
8. Frequent sore throat.
9. Light sensitivity.
10. Fever.
Sinus infection medications
Most doctors would prescribe antibiotics such as amoxicillin, erythromycin or other broad-spectrum antibiotics for a period of 10 days when a mils sinus infection is suspected.
To reduce the severity of the other sinus infection symptoms, doctors may also prescribe one or more of the following medicines which can help in reducing congestion and inflammation of the nasal passages and sinuses so as to expedite the healing process:
1. Pain-killers such as Ibuprofen are prescribed to those who suffer from unbearable sinus headache. Paracetamol may also be taken for those with milder pains.
2. Decongestants. These are medicines used to reduce swelling by narrowing the blood vessels in the mucosal lining. The reduction in blood supply causes the swollen membranes to shrink.
Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) is a commonly prescribed oral decongestant. The chief benefit of this medication is to help clear up the clogged nose so that natural ventilation of the sinuses can be restored. Decongestants can cause rebound congestion if they are used for long periods. Continued usage of it for more than 5 days is not recommended.
3. Nasal Sprays with steroids. Steroid sprays such as Nasonex and Rhinocort work by reducing inflammation to promote mucus drainage in the sinuses. Their effectiveness only come in about a week of continued use. These sprays are commonly prescribed to those who are chronic sinus infection sufferers.
4. Expectorants. These medicines help patients who have a persistent cough from post nasal drip. The main benefit of expectorant is to thin mucus so that it is easy to drain.
5. Antihistamines. These are drugs that block the action of histamine (a chemical released by the body after it has been exposed to an allergen, such as pollen) which is responsible for immediate hypersensitivity reactions such as sneezing and itching.
Sinus infection can affect a person’s productivity due to sinus pressure which causes an intense sinus headache in some individuals. In fact, as one ages, sinus infection symptoms seem to manifests themselves to become more severe and unconfortable.
It is a good idea to treat every sinus infection early so as to prevent it from becoming a chronic condition.
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