Sinusitis or sinus infection is a fairly common infection that affects those that are suffering from hay fever. It is characterized by the inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. It can occour both suddenly and short term or long term.
The sinuses are composed of four parts: frontal sinuses (found in the forehead), maxillary sinuses (behind the chick bones), ethmoid sinuses (behind the eyes) and sphenoid sinuses (behind the eyes).
What are the common symptoms of sinusitis?
Depending on which sinuses are infected and whether it is acute or chronic, the following symptoms may be experienced:
Acute Cases
Ethmoid sinusitis (behind the eyes)
The person with this kind of infection may experience nasal congestion with discharge or post nasal drip; simply defined as mucus that drips down the throat behind the nose. You may also experience pain or pressure around the inner corner of the eye or below the eye just on one side of the nose. Headache in the temple surrounding the eye may also be part of the symptoms. And when you cough or lie down and strain your back, the pain or pressure may be worse, but feel much better when your head is upright.
Maxillary sinusitis (behind the cheek bones)
If you think you may have this type of sinus infection, you may experience the following: pain that travels across your cheekbone, under or around the eye, or around your upper teeth. It may be a pain that is either on one side or both sides of the face and worse when the head is upright so you prefer to recline to alleviate the pain. You may also feel that your cheekbone is tender, red or swollen. You may also have nasal discharge or post nasal drip that is commonly accompanied by fever.
Frontal sinusitis (behind forehead, one or both sides)
For this type of sinusitis, you may experience severe headaches in the forehead with bouts of fever. You feel that the pain is worse when you recline and feel much better with your head upright. There is also nasal discharge or postnasal drip.
Sphenoid sinusitis (behind the eyes)
And finally, if you have this type of sinusitis, you may experience severe headache that is circulating behind and on top of the head, across the forehead and behind the eye. This pain may be worse when lying on your back or when bending forward. Having fever is likewise common. If the pressure extends to the brain, there is a tendency to experience double vision or vision disturbances. Post nasal drip and nasal discharge is likewise common.
Being aware of the early signs of sinusitis will give you a better chance to seek medical help as soon as possible. Don’t wait until your condition gets worse, Talk to a health professional about your hayfever and sinus options in store today.