Best ENT Clinic in California

Every year in the United States, approximately 35 million people experience chronic sinusitis.

Chronic sinusitis is a condition characterized by nasal passage cavity swelling and inflammation that lasts for a minimum of two weeks with treatment.

Since this is a common condition, it is ideal to know the facts, so patients know when to talk to their doctor at the best ENT clinic in California.

Causes

Several factors might cause someone to experience this condition. Common causes include:

• Deviated nasal septum
• Respiratory tract infection
• Nasal polyps
• Certain medical conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux, HIV or cystic fibrosis
• Hay fever or other types of allergies affecting the sinuses

Certain risk factors may make someone more vulnerable to chronic sinusitis include:

• Asthma
• Immune system disorder
• Regular pollutant exposure
• Nasal passage abnormality
• Aspirin sensitivity
• Allergic conditions

Symptoms

To be diagnosed with this condition, patients generally have at least two of the following symptoms:

• Discharge that is discolored and thick, going down the back area of the throat or coming from the nose
• Around the cheeks, forehead, eyes and nose, patients may experience tenderness, pain and swelling
• Congestion or nasal obstruction resulting in nose breathing being difficult
• Cough (in children)
• Decreased ability to taste or smell (in adults)

There are certain other symptoms that are sometimes present with chronic sinusitis:

• Pain in the ears
• Cough that can be more problematic at night
• Bad breath
• Teeth and upper jaw aching
• Nausea
• Sore throat
• Irritability or fatigue

Those who experience infection symptoms should quickly reach out to the best ENT clinic in California. Signs of an infection include high fever, severe headache, vision changes, eye redness of swelling, confusion, and a stiff neck.

Treatment of Chronic Sinusitis

Doctors at the best ENT clinic in California have four primary goals when treating chronic sinusitis:

• Reduce inflammation in the sinuses
• Treat the underlying cause
• Encourage draining of the nasal passages
• Reduce flare-up severity and frequency

The following are among the most common treatment options for this condition:

• Irrigating the sinuses with saline to flush away allergens and irritants, and to reduce drainage
• Injected or oral corticosteroids for severe inflammation, especially if the patient also has nasal polyps
• Nasal corticosteroids to treat inflammation by delivering the drug directly into the nasal cavities
• Desensitization to aspirin if a sensitivity to this drug is the underlying cause

If it is determined that a bacterial infection is also present, the doctor might prescribe antibiotics. The type depends on the offending bacteria that is present. How long patients will take the drug depends on the severity of the infection and the bacteria causing it.

In some cases, immunotherapy may be helpful. This might be considered if allergens are the primary cause of this condition. When all other methods do not help patients, surgery might be considered. This involves removing an obstruction, such as a polyp, or to promote drainage.

Those who suspect chronic sinusitis should not hesitate to reach out to their doctor at the best ENT clinic in California. There are treatments that may help patients to find relief from their symptoms.