Sinusitis-Sinus infection

The infection of the sinuses (cavities situated inside the skull, which are filled with air), also known as sinusitis is produced by bacteria, fungus and sometimes by pollutants and allergic factors. It can be acute or chronic and can lead to serious complications like the facial bone infection or the exacerbation of respiratory tract conditions, and the extension of infection to the brain and eyes.

There are different types of sinuses: frontal, maxillary, ethmoid, and sphenoid and the symptoms might differ when each one is affected; the symptoms also differ for acute and chronic sinusitis.

The role of the sinuses is not completely elucidated, scientists believing that the sinuses are important in absorbing impacts that occur from the front and preventing them from affecting the brain. They are also important in warming, moistening and filtering the inhaled air.

A sinus infection is an acute or chronic disease which affects the integrity of the nasal sinuses. Sinuses are very important elements and their role is to protect the brain against impacts, to reduce the weight of the skull and to improve the resonance of the voice.

Sinusitis is the medical term for inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the sinuses. It’s usually caused by infection. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, which may or may not be as a result of infection, from bacterial, fungal, viral, allergic or autoimmune issues. Newer classifications of sinusitis refer to it as rhinosinusitis, taking into account the thought that inflammation of the sinuses cannot occur without some inflammation of the nose as well (rhinitis).