Sinusitis, frontal, chronic

Sinusitis, frontal, chronic 

Frontal sinus consists of 2 small cavities located just above the eye socket filled with air, equivalent to the position in the eyebrow area. Normally, the frontal sinuses will secrete a little mucus that flows through the nasal passages. Frontal sinusitis occurs when mucus cannot drain and becomes blocked in the sinuses, leading to increased pressure around the eyes and forehead.

Frontal sinusitis is the most common of all types of sinusitis. This is a fairly common disease and is easy to arise when the weather is cold and dry, especially in the autumn and winter. Chronic frontal sinusitis is the term for the condition if symptoms last longer than 12 weeks. The underlying cause is more likely to be ongoing inflammation than an infection.

It is important to see a doctor to determine the cause of long-term frontal sinusitis, as tumors and cancers can develop in the sinus cavities.

Causes 

Frontal sinusitis develops when certain germs make it past the body’s natural defenses, or when other factors are responsible for inflammation.

The most common causes of frontal sinusitis are:

• Viral infection
• Bacterial infection
• Allergies (allergic rhinosinusitis)
• Deviated nasal septum
• Nasal polyps

Symptoms

The most common signs and symptoms of frontal sinusitis include:

• nasal discharge
• a feeling of “heaviness” or pressure behind the eyes
• a headache
• tiredness
• a sore throat
• muscle aches
• facial congestion or a blocked nose
• a reduced ability to smell
• unpleasant or poor breath
• a mild or high fever

The symptoms of frontal sinusitis differ slightly, depending on the cause. Tiredness, fever, muscle aches, and a sore throat are more likely to signal a viral infection than a bacterial infection.

A person most likely has acute viral sinusitis if symptoms have lasted for fewer than 10 days and are not getting worse.

A person most likely has bacterial sinusitis if symptoms do not improve or get worse after 10 days.

If symptoms last longer than a few months, frontal sinusitis more likely results from a structural issue, such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps.

Diagnosis 

Proper diagnostic evaluation of the frontal sinus includes a fine-cut CT scan (including coronal and sagittal views) and a well-decongested nasal endoscopy using angled nasal endoscopes. The spectrum of microorganisms typically found in chronic frontal sinusitis is different from that of acute frontal sinusitis.

Sinusitis, sphenoid, chronic