Sinusitis is an infectious or non-infectious inflammation of one or more paranasal sinuses. The infection may be bacterial, viral, or fungal. Non-infectious sinusitis is allergic in origin. Acute sinusitis is defined as an infection that lasts less than 4 weeks and symptoms resolve completely with treatment. The majority of cases follow a viral upper respiratory tract infection which involves the whole upper respiratory tract
Symptoms
-Excessive mucous production causes initial watery nasal discharge followed by a purulent discharge that is yellowish in color
- Fever uue to the infection.
-Cough: an attempt to evacuate the excessive upper-respiratory secretions
-Bad breath-Decreased sense of smell
-Headache-Dull throbbing pain in the forehead due to the increased pressure inside the sinus cavities.
An Examination of the mild edema in the nasal mucosa
Nasal discharge Inflammation of both sinuses and nasal mucosa causes excessive production of mucous that causes nasal discharge which will be watery initially in case of associated or proceeding viral infection and then become purulent due to bacterial sinusitis.
Sinus tenderness-of the frontal sinuses are affected the tenderness can be felt in-the mid of the forehead. The tenderness can be demonstrated around the nasal bridge if the-infection affects the sphenoid sinus Maxillary tenderness can be elicited in maxillary sinusitis.
Homeopathic treatment of Sinusitis: Homeopathic medicines are very effective in treating the symptoms of sinusitis Arsenicum: These patients feel throbbing and burning pains in the sinuses. Their pains are aggravated by light, noise, movement, after midnight, and may be triggered by anxiety, exertion, and excitability. They may feel relief by lying quietly in a dark room with the head raised on pillows and exposed to cool air. Their teeth may feel long and painful. They may feel nausea and experience vomiting concurrent with their sinusitis.
BELLADONNA: Throbbing pains in the front part of the head that come on suddenly and tend to leave suddenly only to return are characteristic of patients who need this medicine.
KALI BIC: The distinguishing feature of patients with sinusitis who need this medicine is that they have a thick, stringy nasal discharge. They have extreme pain at the root of the nose that is better by applying pressure there. The bones and scalp feel sore. Dizziness and nausea when rising from sitting and severe pain may lead to dimmed vision. The pains are worse by cold, light, noise, walking, stooping, and in the morning (especially on waking or at 9 am) or at night. They prefer to lie down in a darkened room and feel better by warmth, warm drinks, or overeating.
MERCURIUS: These patients feel as though their head was in a vise. The pains are worse in the open air, from sleeping, and after eating and drinking. The pains are also aggravated by extremes of hot and cold temperature. The scalp and the nose become very sensitive to the touch. Their teeth feel long and painful, and they may salivate excessively. The nasal discharge is usually green and too thick to run. It is offensive smelling and acrid.
PULSATILLA: The head pain is worse when lying down and in a warm room and is better in cool air for children who need this medicine. The sinusitis may begin after being overheated. Stooping, sitting, rising from lying down, and eating can aggravate the head pain, which is often in the front part of the head and accompanied by digestive problems. They get some relief from slow walking in the open air or by wrapping the head tightly in a bandage. This condition is commonly experienced when the child is in school. The nasal discharge is often thick and yellow or green.
SILICA: These patients usually have a chronically stuffed nose. They have a sense as though their head would burst. The head pain tends to be worse in one eye, usually the right. It is aggravated by mental exertion (students tend to get sinusitis while studying for an exam). Cold air, moving the head, light, or noise can also aggravate the head pain. It is relieved by wrapping the head warmly and tightly or by applying heat.
SPINELLA: Patients who develop sinusitis with a sharp pain that is worse on the left side may need this medicine. They tend to get sinusitis after exposure to cold or cold, wet weather. They feel pain from warmth or when they stoop or bend the head forward, and they feel some relief by cold applications or from washing with cold water.