Dear Readers,

C.T. who is 48 and lives in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, asks LIFELINE "what causes SINUSITIS?" and "Can Sinusitis be cured?"

She has seen two doctors recently and both have told her that she has a sinus ailment.

Sinusitis refers to an inflammation or infection of the sinuses which are matched pairs of open spaces within the bones of the face and skull frontally.

The Sinuses are lined with mucous membranes which filters, warms and moistens air as it passes by the sinuses on the way to the lungs.

At times the membranes in the nasal passage and sinuses swell and block the entrances to the sinuses. This leads to congestion of the sinuses and nasal passages and predisposes the sinuses to bacterial infection as the blocked ducts cannot drain freely. Other symptoms associated with sinusitis include:

Headache

Facial pain

Tenderness over the forehead and cheek bones

Fever

Toothache

Sinusitis causes wheezing and asthma in some exposure to environmental pollutants such as cigarette smoke, car exhaust fumes or the burning of sugar canefields or garbage dumps can also lead to hay fever, allergies and sinusitis.

Sinus 'congestion' can exist without the presence of a true sinusitis. Sinusitis can be accurately diagnosed by radiological investigations such as X-rays, CT scans and even MRI's of the frontal skullbones and facial bones.

Usually a sinus infection will require treatment with antibiotics such as Augmentin, Arnoxi, Erythromycin, bacteria taken for 0-14 days or newer antibiotics such as cefzil, Cephalexin, Avelox etc.

Decongestants such as Afrin or Otriv nasal drops can be used for a few days to help drain the sinuses when the sinuses are infected and blocked. Use of antihistamines may worsen the situation by thickening sinus secretions thus making it more difficult for the sinus to drain. In severe sinusitis sometimes the sinuses have to be opened and drained surgically.

To help to relieve sinus congestion:

Drink plenty water and soup broth.

Eliminate milk and diary products at least until the condition resolves (dairy products can increase mucous production).

Take vitamin C, 500mg to 1 gram in high doses (3 times daily) to reduce sinus inflammation.

Use normal saline nose drops to cleanse the nasal passage of secretions 4 to 6 times daily.

Eliminate all possible allergies from your personal environment. Avoid exposure to smoke pollution.

Because sinusitis can result from infections and exposure to allergies and other situations over which a person may have no control, even if it is successfully treated, it may recur.

Living healthy, eating healthy and avoiding environmental pollutants are some ways of minimising episodes of sinusitis.

Write to:

Lifeline

P.O. box 1731

Kingston 8

AJM