Sinusitis Signs and Symptoms

Sinusitis, also referred to as a sinus infection, develops in hundreds of thousands of people each year. Some of the symptoms can imitate other conditions and are usually ignored to begin with. For example, when one is developing a sinus infection they frequently think they're getting a cold or are having a major allergy attack. But with sinusitis, there's much more going on compared to what occurs with cold and allergen hypersensitivity.

For anyone who has never had a sinus infection before, a severe sinusitis attack can happen either quietly with just a few signs or symptoms to begin with, and then grow from there, or it could take them completely by surprise and make them feel like death.

The symptoms of a sinus infection, whether chronic or acute, can be debilitating for some. To begin with, the infection will usually start by making the individual feel more drained than normal. Nearly everybody will pay no attention to this to begin with and chalk it up to anxiety or lack of  sleep. But the fatigue is just a precursor to the infection. One normally acquires some kind of fever, anywhere from 99.9 degrees to 102, or even more. The nose will become stuffy and just continue to worsen as time passes. Respiration through the nose will typically become rather difficult in the most serious cases. And while the nose gets more clogged and more phlegm is being produced in the sinus cavity, post nasal drip will take place. Post nasal drip is what causes the so called "tickle" at the back of the throat that results in the coughing and hacking that follows. The nasal passages feel like they are pressing in to and out of the center of the face and in some cases the forehead. An individual is going to feel the need to blow their nose repeatedly for a while, praying that it will help reduce the stuffiness. Among the worst symptoms, as far as taking the pleasure out of the day, is that as soon as the infection has set in, just about all sense of taste is gone. Steering clear of one's favorite meals when this occurs can assist with the mental effects.

Throughout a sinus infection, a person's sleep cycle might be interrupted by a heavy, chesty cough from the post nasal drip. For quite a few, the coughing sounds worse than the  infection really is. It's typically at this stage that the person will pay a visit to their doctor.

The physician will examine the ears, which quite often will be swollen caused by the oncoming infection. They will also examine the throat to verify just how much drip is occurring from the nasal passages. Some doctors will also make use of their light to look up into the nostrils to note the color of the mucous and phlegm that are clogging the nose. These particular secretions are likely going to be  green or yellow, and thick. At the height of the infection, breathing through the nose is basically out of the question, which serves to disturb the sleep cycle.

All these symptoms sound  horrible, and they really are. A sinus infection is not to be regarded casually and, in cases where left untreated, can cause further sickness of a much more dangerous nature.

Now that the symptoms have been defined and looked into, the treatment plan, or "cure" will now be shared.

One can probably guess the very first treatment for acute or chronic sinus infections. The first line of defense is a powerful prescription antibiotic, such as Augmentin or Omnicef (or their generic alternatives). The prescription antibiotic is designed to begin attacking the infection which is causing the individual all this grief. For a severe sinus infection the standard 7-10 day therapy is normally extended to 2 weeks or even as long as a three week period. There is a risk in the treatment going on for so long, and that is the danger of bacteria causing the infection to end up impervious to the prescription antibiotic being used. As always, if the initial antibiotic doesn't have any effect, the medical professional will move to something newer and stronger.

The next part of the treatment is normally a cough suppressant and expectorant combination. The cough suppressant will help alleviate the nightly hacking and coughing, but the expectorant that's used is designed to bring all the mucous and phlegm out from the chest, or the lungs, and to force the body to get rid of it through the mouth. Some individuals will cough it up more lightly than others and spit it out. Other people are more strongly affected by the expectorant and will actually vomit the phlegm out. It's just about the only means for the body to eradicate all the infected phlegm, and the individual usually feels much better when this has taken place a couple of times.

The next portion of the remedy, besides trying to relax and get well, is a cool mist vaporizer beside the bed. This serves to weaken the mucous inside   the nose and the chest  and help get it moving so that it can be got rid of by the body.

A sinus infection can become a very serious illness, but it is at the same time completely manageable.

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