The inflammation of the paranasal sinuses is called sinusitis, and may be due to infection, allergy, or autoimmune disorders. It causes symptoms in the nose, ears, and eyes, and can last for long periods of time if left untreated. Our allergy clinic will perform the allergy tests that are necessary to determine if your symptoms are related to pollen allergy or allergy to dust mites, mold or animals. The tests will also help us determine if you need to see an ear, nose and throat doctor for further evaluation. Acute sinusitis can develop as a complication several days after the first symptoms of a viral or bacterial respiratory infection.
Chronic sinusitis is most often a recurrent inflammatory disorder, but can also be caused by bacterial infection.
Symptoms of sinusitis can vary depending on the severity of the inflammation and the sinuses involved – all of the symptoms listed above may be present, or only a few.
A viral respiratory disease (a “cold”) is the most common cause of acute sinusitis.
Allergies can also trigger sinusitis. When your sinuses are inflamed, bacteria may be allowed to linger, putting you at an increased risk of developing secondary bacterial sinusitis.
Structural abnormalities in the nose – polyps, tumors, narrow drainage pathways, or a nasal septum deviation – can also cause sinusitis.
Sometimes, symptoms of allergies can mimic sinusitis, so your AllergyCorp Group doctor may recommend allergy testing to help identify the true cause of your symptoms. This will enable us to give you the best and most appropriate treatment.
Also, your AllergyCorp Group doctor may order a sinus CAT scan. The CT scanner is used to accurately diagnose sinus conditions such as a deviated nasal septum, concha bullosa, acute sinusitis, chronic sinusitis, or nasal polyps.
While many of their symptoms are similar, sinusitis and rhinitis are two different medical problems. Rhinitis is the inflammation of the mucous membranes found in the nose – not the sinuses. However, poorly-controlled rhinitis can easily lead to sinusitis.
There are several over-the-counter medications and treatments that may help relieve your symptoms. In many cases, these products are sufficient to help you recover from sinusitis or a sinus infection. In severe cases and in cases where a bacterial infection is suspected, your AllergyCorp Group doctor may recommend antibiotics.
For patients with structural abnormalities in their sinuses, surgery may be recommended to correct the structural problems and possibly prevent future symptoms.
If you are diagnosed with allergies, your AllergyCorp Group physician can recommend medications to control your allergy symptoms, reducing the likelihood that you will develop any future infections. People with allergies or sinus problems should try to avoid airborne irritants like strong chemical vapors and tobacco smoke because they can exacerbate your symptoms.
Patients with sinusitis can have multiple factors that predispose them to infection. In these cases, concentrating on only one factor (just your allergies, for example) may not completely resolve the problem. Treatment options are best discussed on an individual basis and with a doctor in AllergyCorp Group.
Sinus infections often are often misdiagnosed as tooth pain, resulting in extractions of back teeth, which are located below the maxillary sinus. A sinus lift is a procedure to augment the bone to lift the sinuses. An alternative option to replace missing back teeth is a graftless zygoma implant which will use the cheekbone to support the dental implant bridge. Often times, the implants can be placed and within the same day the prosthesis can be created as a procedure called Teeth in a Day or Smile in a Day where and immediate load restoration is placed over the dental implants without any bone grafting.
If you are experiencing vague tooth pain, it is very important to see a dental implant specialist (or implant dentist) AND an allergy physician to be sure of the root cause before taking action.
The Nasal and Sinus Clinic of AllergyCorp Group provides the most comprehensive nasal and sinus care available, offering exceptional service and fast access to appointments for patients suffering from nasal, sinus and allergy issues. Our physicians possess special expertise and advanced training in the nasal and endoscopic evaluation and treatment of nasal obstruction, sinus disease and nasal allergies. Call AllergyCorp Group today at 910-399-2882 for Wilmington or 910-207-6520 for Whiteville clinic for more info.