Patients with sinusitis are seen very often at Urgent Cares. Most common symptoms are pain in the face, upper teeth, stuffy nose and nasal discharge. When mucosa lining hollow bones in the face gets infected or inflamed, sinusitis develops. Sinusitis may occur following a cold. Same organisms that cause common colds may also infect sinuses. Sinusitis can also cause headache, ear pressure, smell disturbances, bad breath, cough, fatigue and fever.
Treatment includes salt water rinses, nasal corticosteroids or antihistamines, oral antibiotics for bacterial sinusitis and systemic corticosteroids.
For recurrent or complicated sinusitis CT scan or X-rays are done. Occasionally patient needs to be seen by an otolaryngologist. It is important to treat sinusitis, so it does not become chronic.
