“You’re coughing and sneezing, tired and exhausted. You think that you might be getting a cold. Later, when the medicines you’ve been taking to relieve the sufferings of common cold are not working and you’ve now got a terrible unyielding headache, you finally drag yourself to the Homoeopathic physician.”

After listening to your history of symptoms, examining your face and forehead and perhaps after an X-ray of Para nasal sinuses, the doctor says you have sinusitis. Sinusitis is a common problem all over the world nowadays.

             Sinusitis simply mean the inflammation of the sinuses. Sinusitis occurs when there is an undrained collection of pus in one or more of the sinuses. Sinuses are hollow air spaces. When people say, "I'm having a sinus attack," they usually are referring to symptoms in one or more of four pairs of cavities or spaces known as Para nasal sinuses.

These cavities are located within the skull or bones of the head surrounding the nose. They include the frontal sinuses over the eyes, in the brow area; then maxillary sinuses inside each cheekbone. The ethmoids are just behind the bridge of the nose and between the eyes. And behind them the sphenoids in the upper region of the nose and behind the eyes.

Each sinus has an opening into the nose for the free exchange of air and mucus, and each of this is joined with the nasal passages by a continuous mucous membrane lining. Therefore, anything that causes a swelling in the nose can affect the sinuses. Air trapped within an obstructed sinus, along with pus or other secretions may cause pressure on the sinus wall. The result is the intense pain of a sinus attack. Similarly, when air is prevented from entering a para nasal sinus by a swollen membrane at the opening, a vacuum can be created that causes pain

What is sinusitis?

Sinusitis usually precedes respiratory infections such as cold either in the form of an allergy or Infection. The long-lasting cold causes swelling of the membranes of the nose. The inflammation often leads to formation of Nasal polyps. But they are not true polyps but rather fluid-filled sacs. They look like peeled grapes. They can be found anywhere in the sinuses or nose and are commonly associated with sinus infections. They can cause a blockage of the drainage holes from the sinuses, causing stagnation of mucus in the sinuses. Nasal polyps causes nasal block and nasal voice!

Deviated nasal septum or other obstruction of the nose may also trap fluid in a sinus. The septum is the bone and cartilage, which separates the two sides or nostrils of the nose. A deviated septum is simply a crooked septum. A deviated septum commonly can cause or exacerbate chronic sinusitis by causing a blockage of the nose and also of the drainage area from the sinuses. Most people have somewhat deviated septum. Just because your septum is deviated, it doesn't mean that it is causing a pblem, but it does needs to be evaluated. Dental infections such as tooth abscess and tonsillitis may spread and get trapped into the sinus and infect it directly. They may spread to the middle ear, which would make the victim giddy and cause ear discharge.

What are the symptoms?      

Frontal Sinusitis
Sinusitis has its own localised pain signals, depending upon the type of sinus affected. Headache while rising up in the morning and on stooping is characteristic of sinus involvement. When there is pain over the forehead, when the frontal sinuses is touched it may indicate inflammation of the frontal sinuses.

Maxillary Sinusitis
Infection in the maxillary sinuses can cause the upper jaw and teeth to ache and the cheeks become tender to touch. Since the ethmoid sinuses are near the tear ducts in the corner of the eyes, inflammation of these cavities often causes swelling of the eyelids and tissues around the eyes and pain between the eyes.

Ethmoidal Sinusitis
Ethmoid inflammation also can cause tenderness, it can be felt when the sides of the nose are touched, a loss of smell and a stuffy nose is also noticed. Although the sphenoid sinuses are less frequently affected, infection in this area can cause ear aches, neck pain and deep aching at the top of the head.

Sphenoidal Sinusitis
Drainage of mucus from the sphenoids and other sinuses flow down to the posterior of throat as post nasal drip, that cause a sore throat and irritate the membranes lining the larynx enabling hoarseness of voice.

However, most patients with sinusitis have pain or tenderness in several locations and symptoms usually do not clearly define the sinuses, which are inflamed. Other symptoms of sinusitis can include fever, weakness, tiredness, a cough that may be more severe at night and running nose or nasal congestion. While sleeping, patients will often breathe through their mouth, not able to clear the mucus from the nose and drip down the lungs. As a result, mucus is often pooled in the back of the nose and throat causing irritation. Loss of smell and bad odour are common complaints.

Sinusitis is well diagnosed with the clinical features. Percussion over a sinus shows tenderness. Transillumination – an examination by throwing light with a torch against the sinus may indicate sinusitis. Normal blood study shows elevated White blood cell count and Eosinophil count, which differentiate allergy and infection. A sinus or head X-ray, cranial CT scan or cranial MRI shows sinusitis or thickening of the membranes of the sinus.

How to prevent?

Avoid Infections and Allergens
You can avoid cold or bacterial infections, and thus reduce the frequency and severity of the attacks and possibly prevent sinusitis from becoming chronic. If you have Allergic Rhinitis try to eliminate the “Allergic triggers” and "Allergic Foods." Drink boiled water always! Prepare every thing hot! Be careful about infections and allergens by wearing a mask.

   Avoid Smoking and Alcohol
You should avoid cigarette smoking and other air pollutants. Inflammation in the nose caused by allergies, cigarette smoke destroy the tiny hairs which move mucus out of the sinuses. It also causes irritation and inflammation in the nose and respiratory tract. Drinking alcohol also causes the nasal sinus membranes to swell.

Sinusitis is most often the revenge of a lingering infection or allergy, which can impede proper nasal drainage. This congestion becomes a breeding ground for more and more infections which then cause the lining in the sinuses to become inflamed and swollen. Other problems that can create congestion leading to sinusitis are polyps, a deviated septum, large or inflamed adenoids, a tooth abscess or inflamed tooth, tonsillitis or a change in air pressure from flying or swimming,

“ Every sinusitis patient gets bored with the allopathic medicines as they give a temporary relief. The antibiotics, antihistamines and steroids give them a definite relief until their concentration exist in the blood. The results are only temporary with plenty of side-effects! Then the patients may prepare for decongestant nasal drops and sprays, which however, should not be used daily. When used for longer periods, these drugs can even lead to more congestion and swelling of the nasal passages. Next move is seeking surgery, which make them puzzle with the results as they give a short time relief. Surgical removal doesn't mean that they won't occur again. However, it cannot be neglected in severity and complications!” .

             Final move is all types of alternative therapies. Patients enter the homoeopathic clinic with huge case files if treatment undergone so far! Sinusitis can be treated without surgery. This could be possible in two-way

Eradication of Allergic tendency.

Enhancing immunity.
              This could be possible by constitutional therapy, which means individual study of the patient
              We treat this to eradicate the allergic diathesis as we do for allergic rhinitis and asthma cases. We develop immunity and the natural mechanisms to fight against the Infections. We consider this ailment and other allied diseases as a whole to bring them to the normal harmony of life! Some patients respond very quickly to the treatment. Most of the sinusitis are allergy-based rather than Infection. Homoeopathy gives you a positive treatment for sinusitis by improving immunity against all allergens and infections