What is polysinusitis? Symptoms, causes and treatment

Polysinusitis is a rare but complicated disease that can cause many serious complications. There are many causes of this condition, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and allergies.

Treatments will depend on its cause and severity.

What is polysinusitis?

Sinuses are hollow cavities located inside the bones of the head and face. They have the effect of humidifying the air, keeping the inside of the nose and respiratory tract moist.

Sinusitis, also known as a sinus infection, occurs when one or more of your nasal sinuses become inflamed or irritated. When all the alar sinuses become inflamed at the same time, the condition is called polysinusitis.

Symptoms of polysinusitis

The symptoms of polysinusitis are similar to those of sinusitis. But since all of your sinuses are affected, the symptoms will be somewhat more severe.

Common signs of polycystic sinusitis include:

• Headache
• Tired
• Pain or pressure around the eyes, cheeks, or nose
• Sore throat or cough
• Toothache or jaw pain
• Fever
• Halitosis
• Trouble smelling or tasting
• Pressure in the ear
• Shortness of breath
• Yellow or green discharge from the nose
• Mucus running down the throat

You may have acute or chronic polysinusitis. Acute polysinusitis will usually improve on its own in about 10 days. Meanwhile, chronic polysinusitis will last for at least 12 weeks (even with treatment).

Acute polysinusitis without proper treatment can become chronic, even leading to many other dangerous complications.

Causes of polysinusitis

Bacteria, viruses, or fungi are the most common causes of sinusitis. In some cases, the condition can also be caused by allergies.

You may be at higher risk for polycystic sinusitis if you have the following problems:

• Hay fever
• Allergies or asthma
• Deviation of the bridge of the nose
• Have polyps or tumors in the nose
• Cystic fibrosis, an inherited disease that affects the lungs
• Respiratory tract infection
• A disease that affects the immune system, such as HIV
• Sensitivity to aspirin

Exposure to cigarette smoke or other pollutants can also increase your risk of a sinus infection.

Diagnosis of inflammation

If your doctor suspects you have polycystic sinusitis, your doctor may perform an exam and examine the inside of your nose. Methods commonly used to diagnose the disease include:

• Nasal endoscopy. Your doctor uses an endoscope (tube) inserted into your nasal cavity to look at your sinuses.
• CT or MRI scan. The images taken from these tests can help your doctor detect signs of inflammation or abnormalities inside your sinuses.
• Nasal tissue culture. A tissue culture can help identify the cause of your sinusitis.
• Allergy testing. If your doctor suspects that you have allergic sinusitis, your doctor may recommend that you have an allergy skin test.

Treatment of polysinusitis

If you suspect you have polysinusitis, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will help you determine the cause of the disease, thereby having the most appropriate and effective treatment plan.

If the inflammation is caused by bacteria, you may be prescribed antibiotics. Usually, antibiotics won't be used to treat a viral infection, but your doctor may still recommend antibiotics when the exact cause is unknown.

If allergies are a trigger for inflammation, your doctor may recommend allergic immunotherapy to improve your condition.

Occasionally, surgery may be recommended if there are polyps/tumors in the nose. In some cases, minor surgical procedures will be performed to widen the narrowed sinus opening, making it easier to treat the inflammation.

Besides, over-the-counter (OTC) medications and other home remedies can be used to relieve the symptoms of the disease. You can try the following if you're uncomfortable with persistent inflammation:

• Rinse your nose with saline solution
• Use saline nasal drops
• Drink a lot of water
• Rest and relax
• Apply a warm towel to your face
• Adopt a healthy diet

Complications of the disease

Sometimes, polycystic sinusitis can lead to other problems, including:

• Meningitis is a serious infection that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
• Other types of infections such as ear, throat, respiratory tract infections
• Loss of sense of smell
• Vision problems