Date:29/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/29/stories/2008112958790600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Sinusitis can be prevented Health & Lifestyle

HYDERABAD: A very common ailment quite misunderstood for common cold is sinusitis. The incidence of this ailment has increased over the years due to lifestyle changes, pollution and urbanisation. Despite the increase, physicians feel that precautions and even surgery can actually treat this ailment.

The ailment is common during change of seasons, persons working for long hours in air-conditioned rooms, frequent swimmers and exposure to allergic components like pollen of flowers. “Patients don’t realise that sinusitis can be treated, thanks to modern medicine,” says ENT Surgeon of Care hospitals Dr. Ranbeer Singh. The ENT surgeon, who addressed mediapersons here on Friday on sinusitis, said that a majority of patients do not follow doctor’s prescription religiously. “In such cases, sinusitis develops into chronic state. Yet, chronic sinusitis can be treated by endoscopic surgery,” he said.

Acute and chronic conditions are the two types of sinusitis. The former being a short-term condition while the later lasts for a long time. “Patients have to take antibodies, antihistamines, steam inhalation and pain killers for 8 to 10 days for acute sinusitis,” Dr. Singh informed.

Usually, sinusitis is characterised by nasal obstruction and discharge, cough, fever, headaches and sometimes even dental infections. “Sometimes patients may have green or yellow nasal discharge. Patients discontinue medication after five or six days. This leads to chronic sinusitis,” the ENT surgeon said.

Home remedies

There are some home remedies too. Maintaining clean environment at home, inhaling from a vaporiser or steam from boiled water and nose drops can be used. “Anything that affects the nose is not sinusitis. There’s a lot of difference between common cold and sinusitis,” Dr. Singh said.

The diagnostic tests for chronic sinusitis include blood tests, x-ray of the sinus and CT scan of the sinuses. “Nasal endoscopy involves viewing accessible areas of sinus pathways. The procedure helps to observe obstructions, pus and structural abnormalities,” he said.