What is the difference between rhinitis and sinusitis? There are several differences. The main difference lies in the pathology of these conditions . Rhinitis is not a disease on its own, but is a general term for symptoms associated with the nose, eyes and throat. Symptoms are sometimes associated with seasonal allergies or the common cold. Sinusitis, or sinusitis, is a condition that causes pain and pressure in the sinuses and is usually caused by a bacterial infection. It is possible to have both diseases at the same time, as the two diseases have similar symptoms. For example, rhinitis includes symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, and sore throat. The same symptoms may be present with sinusitis.
General information and differences
Respiratory infections, such as acute respiratory viral infections, can cause symptoms of rhinitis and lead to a secondary infection - bronchitis or sinusitis. Prolonged exposure to hypothermia can lead to extreme nasal congestion and swollen nasal passages. Over the course of several days or weeks, swollen nasal passages, if they are not cleared of mucus for a long time, can become a favorable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic microflora. Mucus can become a prime breeding ground for bacteria and can subsequently cause sinusitis. Although sinusitis and the resulting sinusitis are most often caused by a bacterial infection, it can also occur without infection.
Allergic sinusitis causes swelling and inflammation, mainly in the cavity of the maxillary sinuses. This leads to pressure and pain in their area, which can be acute or chronic. Sufferers of this disease may be bothered by high eye pressure or in the area below the eye sockets. Pressure and pain may also be felt around the eye sockets and at the bridge of the nose.
The main difference between rhinitis and sinusitis is that rhinitis will not cause pain and pressure in the sinus cavity.
People with this condition need to clear swelling in their nasal passages to ensure proper drainage of mucus and pus. This can be done with decongestants and other methods. Steam therapy can also be effective for patients with sinusitis. Some severe cases of chronic sinusitis may require surgery.
The requirement for surgery is one of the main differences between rhinitis and sinusitis.
The surgical process is performed on an outpatient basis through a procedure known as sinoscopy . This is a sinus endoscopy procedure that helps clear blocked maxillary and frontal sinuses, allowing you to breathe freely. This minimally invasive procedure leaves the bone surrounding the sinus tissue unaffected.
The need for surgery is the main differentiating factor between rhinitis and sinusitis. Since the symptoms of rhinitis never require endoscopic surgery, except in cases where the cause of the disease is sinusitis. Symptoms of rhinitis usually go away on their own, without persistent or long-term complications.
How to determine rhinitis and sinusitis or sinusitis
What is the difference between rhinitis and sinusitis or sinusitis? To diagnose the latter, more complex studies are always carried out using medical equipment.
It is not difficult for a doctor to recognize rhinitis; it will be enough to interview the patient for the presence of certain symptoms characteristic of this disease and examine the nasal passages. Since a runny nose can accompany various pathologies of an infectious nature (scarlet fever, measles, gonorrhea, etc.), rhinoscopy may be prescribed.
When diagnosing sinusitis, a simple examination and interview of the patient is not enough. It is necessary to carry out x-rays of the paranasal sinuses in direct and lateral views, endoscopy, computed tomography, as well as puncture (puncture) of the sinus.
Sinusitis can be diagnosed in one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) maxillary sinuses. Laboratory blood tests and examination of the fluid obtained during puncture are mandatory to determine the type of bacteria and their sensitivity to antibiotics. Such diagnostics are carried out in the department by an otolaryngologist.
An x-ray will make it possible to specifically determine the affected sinus and the extent of infection. The presence of mechanical damage to the nasal cavity will be determined by endoscopy. If any doubt arises, a tomography is performed to obtain a more accurate picture of the disease.
What is sinusitis
Sinuses are paranasal sinuses located on the front of the human skull and are bony “pockets” around the nose filled with air. They are located near the nose under the skin and have a total of four groups and eight sinuses, two for each:
- maxillary (or maxillary) sinuses;
- frontal sinus;
- cells of the ethmoid bone;
- sphenoid sinus.
The maxillary sinuses are located on either side of the nasal cavity, in a circle above the upper jaw. The frontal sinus is located in the frontal bone, the ethmoid bone is located on either side of the bridge of the nose, it has a labyrinth-like structure and consists of many small sinuses filled with air. The sphenoid bone is located at the back of the nasal cavity.
The paranasal sinuses have small openings leading to the nose . They are involved in the flow of moist and warm inhaled air to the paranasal sinuses, playing an important role as they balance the weight of the head inside the skull, reducing it.
What is sinusitis
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the largest paranasal sinus. Medical experts generally divide sinusitis into the following categories:
- Acute: three weeks or less.
- Chronic: 3 weeks to eight weeks, but may persist for several months to several years.
- Recurrent: attacks that occur once a year.
According to WHO, more and more people suffer from this disease every year due to air pollution..
Sinusitis and rhinitis difference
Rhinitis is a disease of the nasal mucosa
The disease begins with rhinitis, but with unqualified treatment, a runny nose develops into sinusitis. How to distinguish ordinary rhinitis from sinusitis in the early stages?
It is possible to get rhinitis from prolonged exposure to the cold. Also, when an infection occurs when inhaling air with various bacteria and viruses.
Symptomatically, these two diseases differ in the first days of the disease. We discussed earlier what clinical features occur to a person with sinusitis. When a person gets sick with rhinitis, on the first day he feels unwell, he experiences thirst due to dryness in the nasopharynx, frequent sneezing, nasal congestion, and mucus discharge from the nasal passages.
With an exacerbation of the chronic form of rhinitis, dry mouth increases, the sense of smell disappears and taste buds dull their action; with prolonged nose blowing, the vessels in the nasal passages weaken and bleeding develops.
Attention. Bleeding from the nose is life-threatening for the patient. Provide first aid to stop it.
If you detect any symptoms, consult an ENT doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment with a full diagnosis.
The structure of the nasal and paranasal sinuses
The structure of the nose and paranasal sinuses are interconnected. Mutual influence on each other often leads to a vicious circle, when a runny nose gives complications to the development of sinusitis, and sinusitis gives a side symptom in the form of a runny nose. However, there is also a difference between them.
From an anatomical point of view, rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nasal cavity, which is located behind the nostrils in the place where air enters during the breathing process. Sinusitis is an inflammation inside the hollow paranasal sinuses, located on the facial cranial bones near the nose. These are a total of 4 pairs of hollow sinuses, located symmetrically on both sides of the face - the maxillary, frontal, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. Each of them has holes leading to the nasal cavity. They are connected to each other through the mouths that lead to the nasal sinuses and have similar mucous secretions and microflora. Thus, the mucous membrane is interconnected at the nasal sinuses and paranasal sinuses, being one whole.
When it comes to congestion, sneezing, mucus discharge from the nose, decreased sense of smell - this is a consequence of acute rhinitis . With a long course of acute rhinitis, if treated incorrectly, inflammation of the nose can spread through the channels connecting the sinuses and reach the mucous membrane of the paranasal sinuses. Inflammation of these sinuses is called sinusitis. From the Greek "sinus" - sinus and the suffix "itis" meaning the process of inflammation.
What is the difference between sinusitis and sinusitis?
The difference between these inflammatory processes really exists. According to its clinical picture, sinusitis has a specific location. According to the anatomical structure of a person, inflammation begins in a certain canal or lobe of the nasolabial triangle (maximum sinus).
With an inflammatory process in one or two sinuses, a distinction is made between unilateral and bilateral sinusitis. The disease occurs through the passage of infection through the respiratory tract or pathological features of the nasolabial triangle.
Sinusitis, a type of sinusitis
The term “sinusitis” refers to inflammatory processes that are localized in all nasal sinuses.
There are four forms of the disease:
1. Sinusitis. When the inflammatory process is typical in one or two maxillary sinuses;
2. Frontitis. When inflammation is localized in the frontal or nasal sinuses;
3. Ethmoiditis. With an inflammatory process in the ethmoid labyrinth;
4. Sphenoiditis. When inflammation was discovered in the sphenoid sinus.
Sinusitis combines diseases of the sinuses
The treatment prescribed in the first days is the same in both cases.
Are sinusitis and sinusitis the same thing? In medicine, a doctor makes a diagnosis of sinusitis in the form of sinusitis when several sinuses are affected by the inflammatory process.
Otherwise, an X-ray examination will clarify the clinical picture. Both sinusitis and sinusitis can be caused by bacteria and viruses. In the case of sinusitis, the inflammation is localized in one sinus - the maxillary sinus. The first symptoms of these diseases are different. You can also help the doctor collect a useful history, which will reveal a full clinical picture of a particular disease.
Acute and chronic types of rhinitis and sinusitis
The chronic inflammation that occurs as a result of prolonged rhinitis is called acute sinusitis. Its main symptoms are:
- nasal congestion;
- purulent nasal discharge;
- headache.
In cases where acute rhinitis and acute sinusitis are recurrent and recur repeatedly, this can form chronic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis. Symptoms of chronic rhinitis also include constant nasal congestion or one of the nostrils.
And with chronic sinusitis, there is frequent whitish liquid snot, after which yellow purulent discharge begins to appear and the sense of smell decreases .
Thus, rhinitis and sinusitis are closely related as diseases. However, their clinical manifestations vary, as do examination results.
How does rhinitis differ from sinusitis?
Many people do not know how rhinitis differs from sinusitis, mistakenly considering these two diseases to be the same. In fact, this is not so, they are completely different, only some symptoms and forms of progression may be similar.
Many people do not know how rhinitis differs from sinusitis, mistakenly considering these two diseases to be the same.
Signs of rhinitis
Surely you have figured out what rhinitis and sinusitis are, now you need to look at the symptoms of these diseases. Although symptoms may recur in early disease, there are some differences. First, let's look at the symptoms of rhinitis:
- Constant nasal congestion and difficulty breathing.
- Fatigue and apathy.
- Burning sensation in the nose area.
- Copious and thick nasal discharge.
- Watery eyes and sneezing.
- Mucopurulent discharge, which is almost impossible to blow your nose without the help of appropriate medications.
- Presence of dry crusts in the nose.
- Headaches, insomnia.
Copious nasal discharge and sneezing are common symptoms of rhinitis.
There are acute, chronic catarrhal and vasomotor rhinitis. Each of these types has its own characteristics, and each requires individual treatment. Especially for this, the patient is prescribed a whole treatment program: the use of medications that alleviate the condition of the nasal mucosa, rinsing the nose, restorative therapy, etc.
Only a qualified doctor can easily determine the differences between rhinitis and sinusitis, sinusitis and other diseases that have similar symptoms.
Discomfort in the nose area, the appearance of painful sensations.
What can long-term sinusitis lead to?
Acute sinusitis can cause frequent headaches, especially when tilting the head, chills, increased body temperature, and purulent nasal discharge. Symptoms also include a debilitating runny nose, body aches, discomfort, lack of energy, loss of appetite and much more. In children suffering from acute sinusitis, it may be accompanied by high fever and cramps, vomiting and diarrhea and other symptoms may occur . Without seeking medical help, this disease often turns into chronic sinusitis.
Acute sinusitis can also lead to such consequences and complications as otitis media, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and can sometimes even lead to rare forms of eye infections. Migraine caused by sinusitis is localized to the inflamed area and is different from the type of sinusitis. Sinusitis, depending on its location, may have the following names:
- sinusitis;
- frontal sinusitis;
- ethmoiditis;
- sphenoiditis
Most patients with chronic sinusitis complain of purulent nasal discharge, headache, memory loss and other inconveniences that interfere with their ability to fully live and function in society. In this case, pus filling the sinuses can cause infection of surrounding tissues and lead to consequences such as blindness, meningitis, brain abscess and other serious diseases requiring the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Such serious consequences from complications are extremely rare.
Due to the fact that purulent nasal discharge enters the throat, as well as the need for prolonged breathing through the mouth due to constant nasal congestion, sinusitis is often accompanied by symptoms of chronic pharyngitis - such as phlegm, foreign body sensation or sore throat. If there is an impact of the affected paranasal cavity on the Eustachian tube, then tinnitus may also appear, deafness and other symptoms may develop . Chronic sinusitis can seriously affect children's school performance, causing them to fall behind. Chronic sinusitis can also be a source of infection of other organs that are in close proximity to the source of inflammation.
The essence of sinusitis
As a rule, sinusitis develops against the background of other infections; this is their main difference from rhinitis. And in rare cases (for example, with injuries to the nose), the disease is diagnosed as an independent disease. In addition to the existing signs of rhinitis with sinusitis, additional symptoms are added:
- headache;
- pain in the area of the affected sinuses;
- if you press on the sinuses or tap on them, the pain is felt sharp;
- if sinusitis has developed, you may notice swelling under the eyes;
- with frontal sinusitis, swelling occurs above the eyebrows;
- in severe cases, local redness is observed.
When the accumulated mucus begins to fester, and the pressure inside the sinuses increases, the person develops a nasal voice, and a foul odor is felt from the nose and mouth. In addition, general intoxication of the body develops, which is manifested by insomnia, increased fatigue, and headaches.
Treatment of sinusitis and persistent runny nose is carried out as prescribed by a doctor and includes a complex effect on the body, for example:
- Drugs are prescribed depending on the cause of the disease: antimicrobial agents, antihistamines, vasoconstrictor drops, anti-inflammatory therapy.
- Local treatment includes rinsing the sinuses, preferably done in a hospital setting. The use of drops, ointments and inhalations is recommended.
- If conservative therapy does not produce results or there is a risk of complications, then a puncture of the sinus is done.
- A complex of vitamins and immunostimulants, physiotherapy are used.
- After treatment has ended, the person must be observed in the clinic for another 6 months. Especially if there was complicated sinusitis or sinusitis.
