SINUSITIS

Sinusitis symptoms and signs include: nasal congestion and purulent discharge, frontal headache, pain, fever, tenderness, redness and swelling over the blocked sinus.

Sinusitis causes and common predisposing factors in sinusitis are allergy, hay fever, colds, dental infections and trauma. However, any factor (eg. food intolerance or chemical sensitivity) which brings on oedema of the mucous membranes may result in obstruction of mucus drainage. The exudate that is produced serves as a suitable medium for bacterial overgrowth.

Aspirin sensitivity is found in one third of patients having nasal polyps and rhinosinusitis.

How to prevent sinus infection and treatment for sinusitis:  Addressing the underlying cause of chronic sinusitis (e.g., low immune func­tion and respiratory or food allergens), along with supportive therapy (e.g., saline nasal sprays, sinus wash, immune-enhancing herbs, and nat­ural decongestants), appears to be the most rational approach to reestablish drainage and to clear the acute infection. Various measures can be used: local application of heat, local use of volatile oils and botanicals with antibacterial properties.  Thinning the mucus can be done by using garlic, horseradish, or papain and decongesting the membrane with quercetin.

Check for inhalant or food intolerances eg. milk or aspirin sensitivity. Avoid smoking or exposure to passive smoking.

Patients with acute sinusitis have responded to bromelain therapy.

Since chronic sinus infections are often associ­ated with allergy, long-term control is de­pendent on isolation and elimination of the food or air-borne allergens and cor­rection of the underlying problem that al­lowed the allergy to develop.