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Rhinitis and sinusitis: how to treat?
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Rhinitis is one of the first and probably the most unpleasant symptom of colds that each of us faced. Specialists call the common cold the term "rhinitis", and a simple inhabitant meets every cold snap with a red nose, endless handkerchiefs and the accompanying bad mood. Despite the fact that the runny nose seems rather harmless and not worthy of attention, it can lead to complications and require long treatment.
If the runny nose continues for several days, then there's nothing wrong with that, but if the runny nose has dragged on for more than one week - it's time to visit a specialist. If, after the first week of the disease, the runny nose has not passed, but in addition, there was a dull ache in the temples, a feeling of heaviness in the eyebrows, then there may be suspicions that it is a sinusitis.
Genyantritis is a complicated disease, which, unlike the common cold, will not pass by itself and threatens a serious danger for an exhausted organism. The first signs, as often happens, do not foretell anything terrible: not too abundant discharge from the nasal cavity, a slight increase in temperature (not more than 37 degrees), a decline in vitality. These are the symptoms of the usual off-season cold, which almost everyone of us is accustomed to carry on his feet and does not take seriously. If such signs do not pass a long time, and in addition to them you notice some severity in the nose, then immediately visit the ENT, which, after a short examination, will be able to tell you the diagnosis.
In case you do not consult a doctor right away, the sinusitis can go to the purulent stage. Symptoms of the second stage are an order of magnitude more unpleasant and painful: the headache becomes stronger and more distinctly, it is difficult to eliminate anesthetics, the discharge from the nose acquires a muddy greenish tinge and a denser texture. In some cases, there are clear signs of inflammation: redness, severe sharp pain, high temperature, which is difficult to knock down. Sometimes only a periodic headache can tell about a complex disease. An accurate diagnosis using an X-ray will be reported only by a qualified technician, so if you have been troubled for a long time by a stuffy nose and an unreasonable headache, take a diagnostic snapshot and consult a doctor.
When the sinusitis enters the purulent stage, antibiotic preparations are used for its treatment, and the patient is prescribed narrowing blood vessels to reduce the edema of the nasal cavity.
The most effective treatment of sinusitis is a puncture of the maxillary sinuses with a special sharp instrument and the subsequent evacuation of pus directly from the focus of the infection. After removing the pus, the sinuses are washed with disinfectants, antiseptics, antibiotics are prescribed. This method, despite the effectiveness, is very painful, so it is better not to delay treatment.
After the procedures, patients are sometimes prescribed physiotherapy: laser therapy, magnetotherapy, massage, heating with an infrared lamp. In addition, preventive training with respiratory gymnastics is recommended.
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