Acute & Chronic sinusitis

Sinusitis is swelling and inflammation of the sinuses and their lining. There are four pairs of paranasal sinuses in the head that assist the control of temperature and humidity of the air reaching the lungs.

Acute sinusitis

Acute sinusitis gives rise to severe symptoms but is usually short-lived. Acute sinusitis usually occurs following a cold. Typically a green-yellow nasal discharge occurs a week or more after the onset of the cold and this is associated with severe pain around the cheeks, eyes and/or forehead. This may be associated with swelling and a high fever along with toothache.

Chronic sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis is sinusitis that continues for many weeks. Chronic sinusitis may be caused by an acute sinus infection which fails to resolve or as a result of an underlying allergy affecting the lining membranes of the nose and sinuses. Common symptoms include nasal obstruction, headache, nasal discharge, low grade fever, reduced sense of smell, facial discomfort and halitosis.

Mr. Dhanasekar will go through a clear history taking followed by a thorough examination of your nose, sinus drainage areas, back of nose and throat with an endoscope in clinic. Chronic sinusitis can present with or without nasal polyps. He will treat this conservatively in the first instance with antibiotics, oral steroids, steroid drops or sprays. If the symptoms do not get better with medical treatment, then he then would request a CT scan of your sinuses.

The CT scan findings will dictate the extent of sinus surgery. CT sinuses are like a road map during the surgery which is called Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery [FESS]. Mr. Dhanasekar has had extensive training in endoscopic sinus surgery in renowned centres nationally and internationally. He routinely and regularly does a lot of these procedures.