Chronic Sinusitis is an empty cavity within your cheekbones, around your eyes, and behind your nose. Their main job is to warm, moisten and filter the air in your nasal cavity.

Allergic rhinosinusitis puts you at risk for developing sinusitis because allergies can cause swelling of the sinuses and nasal mucous linings. This swelling prevents the sinus cavities from draining and increases your chances of developing secondary bacterial sinusitis. If your stuffy nose and cough last longer than 10-14 days or worsens after 7-10 days, you may have more than a cold.

Sinusitis symptoms may include any or all of the following:

• Stuffiness
• Loss of smell and taste
• Yellow or green nasal drainage
• Bad breath
• Bad taste in the mouth
• Pains in the cheeks, teeth, or forehead
• Headaches
• Postnasal, drip
• Cough (usually due to the post nasal, drip)
• Fatigue

Aggressive treatment of allergies through medications and/or allergy shots can decrease the frequency of sinus infections.

Treatment of Sinusitis:

May include prescription nasal sprays such as steroids and antihistamines, nasal rinses, oral antihistamines, decongestants to avoid chronic congestion, and antibiotics. Not all cases of sinusitis are due to infection so antibiotics are not always needed. However, if a person needs antibiotics, they are frequently needed for several weeks in order to clear up the infection.

Several non-drug treatments can also be helpful. These include breathing in hot, moist air and washing the nasal cavities with saltwater.

Problems with the structure of your nose – such as narrow drainage passages, tumors, or a shifted nasal septum (the bone and cartilage that separate the right from the left nostrils) can also cause sinusitis. Surgery is sometimes needed to correct these problems. Most sinus infections can be cured without surgery.

Cold vs Allergy vs Sinusitis

Colds usually last no more than one week and are often associated with a fever, body aches, and perhaps some nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

• Sinus infections frequently begin as a cold, but then the symptoms linger for weeks or months.
• Allergies are rarely associated with body aches, fever, or other symptoms.  They may occur throughout the year or only at certain times of the year.  Suspect an allergy if you always develop your nasal or chest symptoms at the same time each year, or if they always get worse at the same time each year.