Chronic Sinus Pain What is Chronic Sinusitis?
Chronic Sinusitis lasts for 12 weeks or longer and is usually caused by prolonged inflammation, rather than a longstanding infection.
Chronic sinusitis lasts for a longer period of time than acute sinusitis and is likely caused by different things.
Acute sinusitis is diagnosed when symptoms last up to 4 weeks. It is usually caused by viruses or bacteria.
Chronic sinusitis is defined as lasting for 12 weeks or longer and is usually caused by prolonged inflammation, rather than a longstanding infection. Infection can be a part of chronic sinusitis, especially when it worsens from time to time, but is not usually the main cause.
Is Chronic Sinusitis Treated Differently Than Acute Sinusitis?
Because chronic sinusitis is caused more by inflammation than infection, the treatments for chronic sinusitis are meant to control the inflammation.
Salt water nasal irrigation and/or nasal steroid sprays are the main treatments for the symptoms of chronic sinusitis.
It may help to look for other factors that can go along with chronic sinusitis and possibly make the problem worse, and have them treated too. Some of these factors are allergies, nasal polyps, asthma and problems with the body’s ability to fight infections.
For more information regarding chronic sinus pain, please contact one of our ENT Providers for an appointment.