Runny nose is a condition familiar to everyone. Sometimes an inflammatory process in the maxillary sinuses joins it. In this case, it is necessary to treat sinusitis at home in adults or children.
Of all sinusitis, namely the so-called inflammation of the various paranasal sinuses, sinusitis occurs most often. Almost always, it occurs against the background of an already existing runny nose or a cold that has not been treated as it should be.
There are other causes of this disease:
- abnormal structure or pathological condition of the nasopharynx, namely: adenoid growths, curvature of the nasal septum, changes in the inferior turbinates;
- improper treatment with antibiotics, to which the causative agents of the disease turned out to be resistant;
- too dry or polluted indoor air;
- defeat by fungi against the background of a decrease in immunity;
- allergies, manifested by allergic rhinitis or bronchial asthma;
- chronic course of infectious diseases of the nasopharynx, manifested in the form of chronic tonsillitis or adenoiditis;
- untreated caries.
The following pathogens can cause sinusitis:
- bacteria, among which the first place is given to streptococci, staphylococci, pneumococci, diplococci;
- viruses, to the action of which, after a few days, a bacterial infection is already attached;
- fungal infection is rare, but severe and poorly treated.
Sinusitis can have a different course: acute, subacute and chronic.
As a rule, catarrhal sinusitis joins viral rhinitis. Reproducing in the nasal cavity, viruses penetrate into the paranasal sinuses, causing inflammation in them.
It is manifested by the following symptoms:
- to the already existing runny nose and accompanying sneezing, a feeling of heaviness and fullness in the paranasal sinuses is added;
- sometimes the skin over them turns red;
- mucous secretions become thicker and change color to greenish or yellowish;
- the temperature rises slightly, not exceeding 38 degrees;
- due to irritation by the flowing mucus of the back wall of the pharynx and esophagus, cough receptors are irritated, and a dry obsessive cough appears, most annoying in the morning.
At this stage, the diagnosis of sinusitis is difficult due to the fact that manifestations of SARS are superimposed on its symptoms. Most often, catarrhal sinusitis caused by a viral infection is cured spontaneously. But if a bacterial infection joins the viruses, the course of the disease becomes more complicated.
Symptoms also change:
- the discharge becomes thicker, and their color is brighter;
- nasal congestion is not eliminated by vasoconstrictor drops, the sense of smell is disturbed or completely lost, but an extraneous fetid odor appears;
- pain is also added to the feeling of heaviness in the maxillary sinuses;
- it can give to the eyeballs or superciliary arches;
- redness captures not only the skin over the maxillary sinuses, but also the cheeks and nose;
- cough persists, but becomes less pronounced;
- when the patient bends down, the pain in the paranasal sinuses increases.
Bacterial sinusitis does not tend to self-heal. Moreover, due to the swelling of the mucous membranes, the fistula through which mucus is evacuated from the sinuses is blocked. Mucous secretions accumulate, and they are an excellent environment in which bacteria multiply intensively.
Therefore, if acute sinusitis caused by bacteria is not treated in time, it will definitely take a purulent form, which is characterized by worsening symptoms and the risk of complications.
How is purulent sinusitis manifested in acute form?
There are all the symptoms of a purulent process:
- acute intoxication;
- temperature can reach 40 degrees;
- weakness;
- headache;
- nausea and even vomiting.
This condition requires immediate comprehensive treatment with the mandatory use of antibiotics.
Allergic sinusitis manifests itself a little differently. As a rule, it has a chronic undulating course with periodic exacerbations associated with a seasonal increase in the concentration of allergens in the air.
Its symptoms:
- copious discharge from the nose, accompanied by itching in the nasal cavity;
- nasal breathing is difficult;
- frequent headaches;
- during an exacerbation, pressure and heaviness are felt in the area of \u200b\u200bthe nose and cheeks.
Even well-treated purulent sinusitis of bacterial etiology can return again. The reason for this phenomenon is the incorrect anatomical structure of the nose or the presence of cysts, polyps in it. Sometimes it has an odontogenic nature.
Odontogenic sinusitis is accompanied by toothache. This course of the disease is called chronic. His symptoms are erased and do not bother the patient too much. They are periodic in nature, and in remission they are completely absent. What should be of concern?
- nasal congestion;
- periodic discharge of a mucous, and sometimes purulent nature.
As a rule, these symptoms do not alarm the patient, especially since they are well tolerated. But the sluggish inflammatory process changes the functional ability of both the mucous membrane and the ciliated epithelium, eventually causing their complete atrophy.
Most inflammations involve both paranasal sinuses and are bilateral sinusitis. Only odontogenic sinusitis affects the sinus, located on the side of the diseased tooth, which is located on the upper jaw.
Treatment of acute and chronic sinusitis: the most effective drugs
Any deterioration in health with a cold should be a reason for a second visit to the doctor. And if the diagnosis of sinusitis has already been made, treatment should begin immediately. It must be carried out comprehensively.
Antibiotics for the treatment of sinusitis are the first thing a doctor usually prescribes, since serious complications can result from conservative treatment:
- meningitis;
- irreversible loss of smell;
- eye infections;
- bronchitis.
Antibiotics for the treatment of sinusitis
To prescribe an antibiotic, you need to know which pathogen caused the disease. Allergic, viral and fungal sinusitis are not treated with antibiotics, in these cases they are ineffective.
While the causative agent of the infection is detected, the doctor prescribes broad-spectrum antibiotics:
- "Macropen". Effective in the fight against pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenzae. Diseases of the liver and kidneys are a contraindication to taking it.
- "Augmentin". Semi-synthetic antibiotic of the third generation and a wide range of applications. It has a negative effect on the intestines and liver, you can not drink for a long time.
- "Ceftriaxone". It is an antibiotic of the 3rd generation of the penicillin series.
- "Sumamed". An effective drug of the macrolide class, has a very wide spectrum of action and a short course of treatment. Contraindications: renal, hepatic insufficiency.
- "Amoxiclav". Antibiotic based on amoxicillin, has a high efficiency.
In severe cases of the disease, tablet forms of antibiotics may not be enough. In this case, injections are prescribed. Most often it is "Ceftriaxone" - an antibiotic based on penicillin. Injections are made subcutaneously only once a day.
In very advanced cases, Cefazolin injections are prescribed. As a rule, this strong antibiotic is used in a hospital, it is also administered once a day.
All antibiotics in tablet form inhibit the beneficial intestinal microflora, which can provoke dysbacteriosis. To prevent this from happening, you will need to take prebiotics at the same time.
Nasal drops
Popular drugs like Naphthyzin and Galazolin do not treat sinusitis. Their function is to relieve nasal congestion. But with this disease, drugs should have a complex effect and not only constrict blood vessels, but also suppress the activity of infectious agents, reducing inflammation.
The most common effective drugs:
- "Sinuforte". An expensive, but effective drug, relief comes after the first application.
- "Polydex". It has anti-inflammatory, decongestant and vasoconstrictive effects, contains neomycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic that fights pathogens. "Polydex", in addition, strengthens the walls of blood vessels.
- "Rinofluimucil". The drug also has a triple action, is available in the form of an aerosol, which is very convenient to use.
Washing the sinuses with an antiseptic solution
This procedure is necessary for sinusitis - it facilitates the evacuation of mucus accumulated in the sinuses. The most convenient way is to use aerosols.
The most commonly used drugs are:
- water, boiled or sterile, which has a temperature of 37 to 40 degrees;
- saline;
- antiseptic preparations - solutions containing furatsilin, miramistin, dioxidine and chlorhexidine;
- infusions prepared from plants with antiseptic action - chamomile, calendula, sage;
- products created from sea water - Aqualor, Aqua Maris.
For rinsing to be effective, you need to free your nose from mucus. The procedure is carried out by means of a syringe (of course, without a needle) or a special kettle. To carry out the washing, the head is tilted slightly on its side over the sink and the solution is poured into the nostril that turned out to be higher.
Effective ointments
Effective and complex treatment of sinusitis is impossible without the use of special ointments with antiseptic action. The ointment is applied to turundas made of cotton wool, which are placed in the nasal passages after washing them. Treatment time - from 10 minutes to half an hour. Apply ointment for about 3 weeks.
The most common of them:
- Vishnevsky ointment. An old and proven drug based on birch tar, castor oil and xeroform. It can be improved by diluting it in half with aloe juice or juice squeezed from a cyclamen tuber.
- Fleming's ointment. It is made on the basis of calendula, chestnut, menthol, petroleum jelly and zinc oxide.
- Ointment Simanovsky. Contains in its composition diphenhydramine, zinc oxide, adrenaline hydrotartrate, lanolin, menthol and petrolatum. You cannot buy a ready-made drug in a pharmacy, you can only make it to order according to a prescription issued by a doctor.
Treatment of acute and chronic sinusitis with folk remedies
People use antibiotics not so long ago, and sinusitis has always been sick, so the range of folk remedies used to combat this dangerous disease is quite wide. These are herbs, juices, bee products. They act softer, do not have such side effects as antibiotics, but the treatment of sinusitis with folk remedies is longer.
Traditional medicine recipes
Ointments help restore the mucous membrane and have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
- Melt about 5 tablespoons of honey in a water bath. Add to it a tablespoon of vegetable oil and a teaspoon of onion or garlic juice.
- To 1 part of grated laundry soap, add the same amount of propolis for alcohol, honey and onion juice. Warm up in a water bath and stir.
Drops for the treatment of sinusitis - an effective remedy. They are prepared on the basis of juice and roots of medicinal plants.
- Squeeze out the juice from the grated cyclamen tuber and dilute it in boiled water at the rate of: a teaspoon per glass of water. 2 drops are dripped into each nostril. It is enough to do this once a day. Care must be taken, as an allergy to the plant is possible.
- Aloe juice also has a healing effect on sinusitis. It is enough to drip only 2 drops of freshly squeezed juice into each nostril. You need to do this three times a day.
- You can mix the juice of aloe and Kalanchoe Degremont, taking them in equal parts. Add a teaspoon of honey and a pinch of salt. 3 drops in each nostril in the morning and evening.
- A teaspoon of onion juice is mixed with three tablespoons of sea buckthorn oil. Drip 2-3 times a day, a few drops.
- A mixture of beetroot and carrot juice in equal parts is instilled several times a day, 2-3 drops into each nasal passage. This recipe is also suitable for children.
For washing, use chamomile decoction (half a spoonful of flowers per 200 ml of water). You can dilute 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 20 to 25 drops of propolis tincture in alcohol in half a liter of water.
Inhalation and heating
Steam inhalation is the fastest way to bring medicinal substances to the maxillary sinuses.
They can be done on:
- hot potatoes;
- decoction of calendula with the addition of eucalyptus oil (only 1 drop);
- a hot mixture of a liter of water, to which essential oils are added: eucalyptus - 4 drops, tea tree - 4 drops, ginger - 2 drops, the same number of drops of black cumin oil.
It must be remembered that thermal procedures in the acute period of sinusitis can lead to the spread of infection to neighboring organs, that is, to the occurrence of complications.
How to do acupressure with sinusitis?
Impact on the biologically active points of the face in the nose area will help start the mechanism of recovery, activating the body's own forces.
Massage points:
- Massaging movements at the wings of the nose. It is carried out from two sides, using the pads of the index fingers.
- Between the upper lip and the wings of the nose, massage is done with pressure movements.
- The tip of the nose is gently stroked and pinched.
- Stroke the points at the outer corner of the eyes.
- At the end of the massage, light pressure is applied to a point located slightly above the bridge of the nose between the eyebrows.
During the massage, the movements should be smooth, the pressure intensity increases gradually, while the finger does not come off the biological point. Each point is given from 3 to 4 minutes. It is necessary to carry out massage from 3 to 5 times during the day.
With caution, massage is carried out in the following cases:
- purulent sinusitis and its complications;
- acute infections with high fever;
- oncological diseases;
- pregnancy;
- strengthen immunity;
- do not get cold, wear clothes according to the season and the weather;
- humidify the air in the room;
- brush your teeth regularly and visit the dentist in a timely manner for treatment;
- treat pathological processes in the nasopharynx;
- enough rest and proper nutrition;
- warm up and exercise.
When is a nasal septum piercing indicated? In the presence of a large amount of purulent mucus in the sinus and difficulty in its outflow. If the operation is carried out on time and properly treated with antibiotics, and then physiotherapy is connected, this dangerous disease can be cured completely and quickly.
The puncture of the nasal septum is done only after high-quality anesthesia, so pain is excluded. Unpleasant sensations, of course, will be. But a puncture will allow washing the maxillary sinus with an antiseptic and injecting an antibiotic directly into the focus of inflammation. Therefore, if the doctor suggests surgery, self-treatment of sinusitis without a puncture is not recommended.
Disease prevention
Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. This is what prevention is for. What to do so that sinusitis does not bother even if you have a runny nose? Of course, it is better not to catch a cold at all, but if the virus caught you by surprise, you should effectively and competently treat all manifestations of a cold, including a runny nose.
What to do in order not to get sick with sinusitis?
Sinusitis is an extremely unpleasant condition that cannot be ignored even at the initial stage. Proper treatment will help solve the problem quickly and permanently.
