Catarrhal sinusitis is a disease manifested by an inflammatory process in the maxillary sinuses of the nose, which is accompanied by swelling of the mucous membrane without the formation of purulent discharge.
Swelling in this form of sinusitis is the main symptom of the disease, in which the outlet openings of the maxillary sinuses close. As a result of this, the mucus formed cannot come out. The gradual accumulation of exudate in the sinuses leads to activation of the inflammatory process. The danger of the disease lies in the likelihood of inflammation spreading to neighboring vital organs, which can subsequently lead to serious complications: meningitis, phlegmon, periostitis of the ocular orbit, blindness. With timely diagnosis and proper therapy, this type of sinusitis can be treated without any difficulties.
General symptoms
In the early stages, it is quite difficult to identify sinusitis, since at the initial stage of development the symptoms are similar to those of a cold. Therefore, it is important to know what signs to recognize the disease in order to consult a doctor in time.
Main symptomatic manifestations of the disease:
- lethargy, general malaise, decreased performance;
- increased body temperature;
- violation of nasal breathing;
- headache, worse when tilting the head;
- increased lacrimation;
- severe swelling of the face and eyelids;
- frequent expectoration;
- copious mucus formation.
In the chronic course of the disease, patients complain of increased fatigue, especially during mental activity, decreased or complete memory ability, and impaired olfactory function.
If the above symptoms appear, it is advisable to immediately visit an otolaryngologist to avoid the undesirable consequences of edematous sinusitis.
How can you relieve swelling of the nasal mucosa with sinusitis?
How to relieve swelling of the nasal mucosa with sinusitis? This question is now of interest to many people who have encountered this problem.
As soon as you discover the first signs of sinusitis, you must immediately seek help from a specialist so that later this disease does not provoke inflammation of neighboring organs.
The maxillary sinus is represented by a paired paranasal septum, which is located in the area of the human upper jaw. When sinusitis begins to develop, nearby tissues in the maxillary sinus are affected, resulting in swelling of the face. Very often this inflammation occurs in the eye area or on the nasal mucosa.
What is the danger of sinusitis?
On the human face, all organs are located quite close to each other, so facial swelling has a very significant side effect. The anatomical location of the maxillary sinuses is such that the inflammatory process tends to develop negatively and spread to other organs. Features of anatomical proximity are as follows:
First, the superior wall of the maxillary sinus is approximately 1 mm thick, which separates it from the eye sockets. That is why, during the onset of this disease, swelling appears in the eye area.
Secondly, the lower wall of the sinuses is anatomically absent, which quite often provokes the development of sinusitis. This occurs due to the fact that teeth affected by caries penetrate their roots into the cavity of the maxillary sinus. This is why unhealthy teeth can cause puffy eyes.
Thirdly, the inner wall of the maxillary sinus is in close contact with the nasal cavity. The anastomosis opens into the lower nasal passage. Thanks to this organ, the principle of the gate is implemented, which protects against the penetration of infection from the nose into the maxillary sinus, and also prevents the exit of pus from the organ.
Fourthly, the posterior wall is adjacent to the venous plexus, so if pus is formed, it is absorbed into the blood, and it turns out that thrombotic and septic complications arise.
Fifthly, the nasolacrimal canal is located very close to the sinus, which directly connects the nasal passages to the eye sockets.
In persons with chronic sinusitis, inflammation of the tissue located in the periocular area may occur. In addition to this area, inflammation can also spread throughout the entire nasolacrimal duct, which leads to the development of conjunctivitis, resulting in swelling of the entire eye. After this, it will be impossible for the person to open his eyes.
Return to medicine Treatment of swelling of the nasal mucosa with sinusitis
In order to fully achieve the removal of edema, it is necessary to first find out the cause of the disease, and then apply drug treatment.
The main method of treatment is the use of medications, but many experts also recommend folk remedies.
First of all, antibiotics are used in treatment, which have a high therapeutic effect during chronic and acute inflammation. After the patient begins a course of treatment with antibacterial drugs as prescribed by the doctor, the inflammatory process immediately subsides.
Facial swelling may decrease within 24 hours. The most common drugs are: Ampicillin, Ospamox, Augmentin, erythromycin, azithromycin, Ceftriaxone, Cefepime.
They do a nasal rinse, for which the patient needs to lie on his side. In this case, the nurse instills a large amount of medicinal solution into the lower nostril, and the patient must remain in this position for 5 minutes. Thanks to this type of treatment, maximum penetration of the drug can be achieved.
Using vasoconstrictor nasal drops. This type of drops is capable of draining inflammatory fluid from the sinuses. After you drop them into your nose, the process of evacuation of the contents of the inflamed sinus will take place, and due to this, swelling of the nasal mucosa occurs. The most commonly used types of nasal drops are Nazivin and Naphthyzin.
During surgical treatment, the doctor performs a puncture of the nasal sinuses. That is, the process of drainage and washing with antiseptics and antibiotics occurs. This type of treatment is very complex; specialists generally resort to it in the most extreme cases.
There are several types of operational penetration. In the first case, through the medial wall and from the side of the anterior wall, having previously made an incision above the upper lip. And another superficial method is considered traumatic, so it is not used in practice.
Drugs are used that can relieve body temperature and eliminate nasal swelling. But if antibiotics are not added in time, the effect will not last long. Basically, doctors prescribe drugs such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol.
Antihistamines are prescribed, which are mainly prescribed for allergies. The most common drugs include Hifenadine, Suprastin, Diphenhydramine. But it is worth remembering that these drugs can cause drowsiness. The above medications will help reduce swelling of the nose and sinuses.
Another type of treatment is physiotherapy. But they can be prescribed only if the patient does not have an elevated body temperature. The maxillary sinuses are treated using light therapy, electrophoresis with parallel administration of medications.
Return to zmistLikuvannya using traditional medicine
This treatment method mainly uses various collections of herbs or roots. They are brewed with boiling water or poured with alcohol, and everything must be infused in a dark place. The most common herbal mixtures are calendula, plantain, marshmallow root, and chamomile. All herbs must be chopped and poured with boiling water. Let it brew for about 30 minutes and take 100 g four times a day.
Sea salt helps very well during swelling of the face and nasal mucosa. Take 2 tablespoons of sea salt and pour 200 g of boiling water. With this solution, when it has cooled, you need to rinse your nose with an enema bulb. This method should be carried out 3 times a day.
Many people find it helpful to use essential oils such as fir, pine or cedar oil. To do this, take a pan of boiling water and add essential oil. Then you need to take a blanket and cover it over the pan. You need to inhale such aromas for 20 minutes. This procedure is recommended to be carried out in the morning and before bedtime.
Everyone probably remembers from childhood how they put aloe, onion, beet or Kalanchoe juice into their nose. The beets must be mixed with honey, and the onion juice must be diluted with sunflower oil.
A very good effect occurs if you simply stand and breathe over a cut onion. This type of procedure must be performed regularly.
Lemon is considered the most effective and proven method. To do this, you need to take the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon and dilute it with boiling water in a 1:1 ratio. This solution must be sucked in through your nose and immediately blown away. This procedure must be carried out five times for each nostril.
After you have completed the procedure, take a cotton swab, previously soaked in saline solution, and insert it into one nostril for 2 minutes, then into the other. Try to carry out this procedure more often, as lemon kills germs and salt removes swelling.
And the last type of treatment is iodine. The process itself is quite simple: to do this, you need to draw an iodine net on the soles of your feet before going to bed, and then put on cotton socks and wool socks on top. After a couple of such procedures, your illness will disappear as if by hand.
Remember that it will be difficult to achieve results simply by using masks and compresses, since swelling has an inflammatory substrate. Of course, you can try using antiseptic eye drops such as Sulfacil, which are often prescribed for conjunctivitis.
Sinusitis cannot be treated independently, because its 100% treatment requires an integrated approach. Antibiotics are prescribed only by a specialist. So seek help in time so that you don’t have to resort to surgical treatment later.
Treatment
In most clinical cases, the edematous form of sinusitis requires the use of exclusively conservative treatment methods. The basis of drug therapy is to normalize the drainage function of the sinuses and restore nasal breathing.
Drug groups
The following treatment methods are usually used:
- to suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria and prevent the disease from becoming purulent, broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs are prescribed;
- In addition, antihistamines are prescribed. The most effective for sinusitis are: Tavegil, Diphenhydramine, Suprastin. Drugs in this group can eliminate severe manifestations of catarrhal sinusitis, relieve swelling of the sinus mucosa, and reduce the allergic component;
- To eliminate local symptomatic manifestations, the use of nasal agents with vasoconstrictor action is recommended. Drops such as Nazivin, Sanorin, Galazolin may be prescribed. These types of drugs should not be used for more than one week, otherwise addiction may occur. As a rule, this period is quite enough to completely get rid of the disease;
- Not the least place in the treatment of catarrhal sinusitis is occupied by local procedures, the main of which is the procedure of rinsing the nasal passages. Regular rinsing of the nose helps relieve swelling of the mucous membrane, improve the drainage of inflammatory exudate from the sinuses, and normalize nasal breathing. To carry out such events, you can use both water-salt solutions purchased at the pharmacy, and a solution prepared independently with the addition of sea salt. Such procedures are characterized by increased efficiency when used repeatedly.
Strengthening the immune system
To correct disorders of the immune status, immunostimulating drugs and proper nutrition are prescribed. During the recovery period, to improve the therapeutic and preventive effect, massage and physiotherapeutic procedures are used.
Causes of swelling of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinuses
Not every decongestant medicine can have the desired effect in such a situation - to relieve swelling of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinuses, since the nature of the edema in such a disease can be different. Only an otorhinolaryngologist can identify the etiology of the inflammation that has arisen and prescribe complex therapy. Inflammation can be caused by:
- viruses;
- fungi;
- allergies to some substances;
- pathogenic bacteria;
- caries and periodontal disease of the upper teeth;
- nasal injuries;
- congenital pathologies of the structure of the nasal septum.
Only an otolaryngologist can tell you how to relieve swelling of the mucous membrane to improve general well-being and relieve inflammation, having identified the cause of its occurrence. Typically, inflammation occurs as a result of infection of the nasal mucosa by pathogens, which include:
- staphylococci;
- streptococci;
- chlamydia;
- hemophilus influenzae;
- mushrooms of various types that live on human skin;
- mycoplasmas and other pathogenic microorganisms.
In this case, a suitable antimicrobial agent (antibiotic, antifungal drug, etc.) to which these pathogens are sensitive is prescribed. With the right choice of medicine, it is possible to cure sinusitis in a timely manner. Swelling of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, sinuses, as well as swelling of the facial tissues (can occur with sinusitis) is relieved with the help of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and vasoconstrictor medications prescribed by the doctor.
For allergic or odontogenic sinusitis, another complex therapy is prescribed, which is designed to first eliminate the cause of inflammation. Relieving swelling of the sinus mucosa is the result of symptomatic therapy, which comes as an addition to basic treatment.
In addition, inflammation of the maxillary sinuses can result from a chronic disease of the ENT organs, which also requires systemic treatment. In this case, it is necessary to select medications that will be compatible with each other and will allow you to fight not only the swelling of the mucous membrane of the paranasal sinuses, but also diseases such as:
- tonsillitis;
- pharyngitis;
- sore throat;
- bronchitis;
- tracheitis;
- pneumonia, etc.
In addition, inflammation of the maxillary sinuses can occur against the background of scarlet fever, measles or other viral diseases. Only an experienced doctor specializing in the treatment of diseases of the ENT organs can identify the specific cause.
Possible complications
In the absence of proper treatment, the edematous form of sinusitis passes into the purulent stage. There is a general deterioration in the patient's condition, as symptoms of intoxication arise, expressed in the appearance of purulent discharge, a significant increase in temperature, chills, and increased drowsiness. In this condition, the patient needs an immediate visit to the otolaryngologist for re-examination and changing the treatment regimen. Typically, the patient is recommended to undergo puncture of the maxillary sinuses.
Also, the consequences of the catarrhal form of sinusitis include direct chronicity of the pathological process. Edematous sinusitis of a chronic nature is more difficult to develop, and treatment is extremely difficult. Therefore, special attention is paid to preventive measures.
For preventive purposes, rhinitis of various etiologies should be treated in a timely manner, be sure to consult a doctor in case of acute respiratory diseases, and avoid injuries to the face and head.
Conservative treatment of edematous sinusitis
Sinusitis without pus with swelling of the nasal sinuses responds well to traditional therapy. Based on a general examination and instrumental examination data, the otolaryngologist selects effective procedures and medications.
The most informative diagnostic method is an x-ray . In the photo, sinusitis is determined by a darkened area with reduced pneumatization.
X-rays are performed in different projections, which makes it possible to clarify the morphology of the disease, assess the extent of inflammation, the level of fluid and the biological properties of the exudate.
Nasal rinsing
Irrigation of the accessory sinuses has a high therapeutic effect . The main objective of the procedure is to remove accumulations of sputum, prevent the spread of infection, increase aeration of the anastomosis, restore nasal breathing, and relieve the symptoms of maxillary sinusitis.
A saline solution helps relieve swelling of the mucous membrane and reduce inflammation. to 1 glass of distilled water ( for the treatment of children, the concentration of the main substance is 1 teaspoon ), 1-2 drops of iodine .
While standing over a sink, inject liquid one by one using a syringe or a medical bulb. When the manipulation is carried out correctly, water washes the nasopharynx and flows freely through the opposite opening.
For reference! Mechanical cleansing of the paranasal sinuses increases the absorption of pharmaceuticals.
Nasal lavage for children under 2-3 involves administering 2-3 drops of saline solution into each nasal canal . After 5-10 minutes, the remaining mucus is carefully removed with cotton wool.
The following medications are widely used in ENT practice:
- "Furacilin";
- "Miramistin";
- "Chlorhexidine";
- "Dioxidine".
Antibacterial drugs are active against gram-positive and gram-negative strains. Before starting irrigation of the nasal cavity, it is recommended to conduct an allergy test . No more than 10 ml is injected into the paranasal sinuses . drug, in the absence of side effects, the drug is approved for use .
In a hospital setting, vacuum drainage of the sinuses – the “cuckoo” method – will be effective. The procedure involves the introduction of an antiseptic solution while simultaneously sucking out fluid with pus and sputum.
The number of procedures determines the severity and etiology of the disease. On average, 4 - 7 sessions are enough . If after the course the patient’s condition has not returned to normal, the doctor turns to minimally invasive therapy - puncture of the maxillary sinuses.
Sea water-based spray is used to moisturize the mucous membranes
Vasoconstrictor drops
The main components (xylometazoline, oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, naphthyzine) act on alpha-adrenergic receptors concentrated in the smooth muscle layer of the vessels of the inner lining of the nose.
Under the influence of active substances, inflammation and hyperemia of soft tissues are reduced, natural nasal breathing is restored. Suspensions are intended for intranasal administration, 1-2 drops into each nasal opening 3 to 4 times a day, for a short course of 3-5 days .
With unsystematic use, tachyphylaxis and drug-induced rhinitis develop.
The line of pharmaceutical products is represented by “Nazivin”, “Sanorin”, “Naphthyzin”, “Noxprey”, for children - “Nazol Baby”, “Nazol Kids”.
Complex drugs include “Vibrocil”, “Pinosol”, “Polidexa”. In addition to the vasoconstrictor effect, sympathomimetics exhibit bacteriostatic and anti-inflammatory activity.
Antihistamines
Histamine receptor blockers complement the complex regimen for sinusitis of various etiologies and severity.
The drug regimen mainly includes 2nd and 3rd generation pharmaceutical products :
- "Xyzal";
- Telfast;
- "Erius";
- "Desal";
- "Erespal";
- "Loratadine";
- "Claritin."
Active components relieve symptoms provoked by the endogenous release of biogenic amine, reduce vascular permeability, weaken smooth muscle spasm, eliminate or prevent the formation of soft tissue edema.
The peculiarities of the medications include high bioavailability, absence of sedative and cardiotoxic effects.
For reference! In case of individual hypersensitivity of the body to the constituent substances or an overdose, side effects may develop: nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, headaches, dry mouth, insomnia.
To form local immunity and increase the body's resistance to infectious pathogens, immunomodulatory drugs :
- "IRS-19";
- "Immunomax";
- "Genferon Light";
- "Imunofan".
The action of the medications is aimed at restoring the water-salt balance, correcting the state of the immune system, and strengthening antioxidant protection.
The use of pharmaceutical products for sinusitis is permissible after consultation with a doctor
In the absence of adequate therapy, the edematous form of sinusitis becomes purulent. Chronicity of the pathological process complicates treatment , therefore, special attention is required to adhere to preventive measures, timely relief of rhinitis, and avoidance of facial and craniocerebral injuries.
Swelling as the main symptom of sinusitis
Let's determine why swelling may occur in the face and maxillary sinuses. Based on irritants and causes:
- Various respiratory infections. Edema simply blocks their path further into the body.
- Hypothermia. Prolonged exposure to low temperatures causes the ciliated cilia in the nose to stop performing their functions and swelling develops.
- Allergic reaction. An allergy can be not only to external irritants such as dust or fluff, but also to some medications that the patient is taking.
Note that with the development of sinusitis, some structural features of the nose and maxillary sinuses can lead to edema. This could be a deviated nasal septum, or the presence of polyps in the nose.
Mechanical damage that leads to disruption of the integrity of the mucous membrane is another reason for the development of edema. Moreover, often even minimal damage is enough, for example, during an examination by an ENT specialist, and swelling will already form.
Swelling in the sinuses subsequently leads to the following symptoms:
- Obvious redness of the skin in the area of edema.
- Swelling.
- Nasal congestion.
- Difficulty in nasal breathing appears.
- Accumulation of pus.
- Strong headache.
- Voice distortion and rapid breathing.
Swelling in the sinus area must be removed as soon as possible; delay can lead to serious complications.
