YOUR nose is blocked. You feel pain in the area just below your eyes. And it seems that you have been coming down with a cold too often. When you see the doctor, he says: “You’ve got sinusitis.”
What does this mean?
What does this mean?
“Sinusitis is a common condition that occurs when there’s something blocking the opening to the sinus such as allergies, upper respiratory tract infections, polyps and tumours,” says Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, consultant ear, nose and throat specialist at Prince Court Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
“The sinuses are air-contained cavities that connect the space between your nostrils and the nasal passage,” he explains. In addition to insulating the human skull against compression pressure, the sinuses help to give resonance to our speech. There are four pairs of sinuses: Frontal sinuses, maxillary sinuses, ethmoid sinuses and sphenoid sinuses.
PAIN AND HEADACHE
PAIN AND HEADACHE
Sinusitis occurs when there is an inflammation of the membranes lining the sinuses. “The common symptoms are facial pain, green discharge, persistent sore throat, teeth pain and headache,” he says.
“You must not confuse this with rhinitis,” he warns. “Rhinitis occurs when there is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose.”
“You must not confuse this with rhinitis,” he warns. “Rhinitis occurs when there is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose.”
A diagnosis is made after examining the patient using a scope. “It’s a painless procedure and the scope is no more than 4mm in diameter,” says Dr Kuljit. “If the infection persists, I suggest that the patient undergo a CT scan to determine the extent of the problem.”TREATMENT OPTIONS
Currently, there are three treatment options. For the first, the patient is prescribed simple nasal sprays, antibiotics or given a nasal saline wash.
In cases of chronic sinusitis, a more traditional approach is carried out. Dr Kuljit refers to this as a “functional endoscope sinus surgery”.
“This involves removing bone and tissue in the sinus or drilling a passage into the sinuses. It can be a painful procedure and there is a 27 per cent chance of the problem recurring. Sometimes, during the procedure, the use of sharp forceps can injure the paper-thin bone separating the eyeball and the nose.”
NEW WAY
In cases of chronic sinusitis, a more traditional approach is carried out. Dr Kuljit refers to this as a “functional endoscope sinus surgery”.
“This involves removing bone and tissue in the sinus or drilling a passage into the sinuses. It can be a painful procedure and there is a 27 per cent chance of the problem recurring. Sometimes, during the procedure, the use of sharp forceps can injure the paper-thin bone separating the eyeball and the nose.”
NEW WAY
The third option is a relatively new procedure called “balloon sinuplasty” where a small, flexible, sinus balloon catheter is used to open up blocked sinus passageways. When the sinus balloon is inflated, it gently restructures and widens the walls of the passageway while maintaining the integrity of the sinus lining.
It was first introduced here in 2007. Since then, Dr Kuljit has carried out hundreds of cases of sinuplasty successfully.
“We copied this procedure from the cardiologists. Previously in cardiology, many believed that a diseased vessel had to be replaced. Angioplasty was not a favoured option then and was even considered a myth. Today, however, angioplasty has become the preferred option in cardiology. Likewise, we are now seeing that balloon sinuplasty has better results.”
Dr Kuljit cautions: “It’s not a fool-proof procedure. There is a seven per cent chance of the problem recurring and you cannot carry out sinuplasty in certain cases. In situations where there are polyps or a tumour, the patient may still have to undergo surgery.”
Furthermore, unlike cardiology (where medication can be delivered directly to the heart muscle), it is not possible at present to deliver drugs like steroids, anti-fungal medication and antibiotics to the affected sinuses.
The biggest drawback for sinuplasty remains the cost as it can easily set a patient back by about RM15,000. Nevertheless, Dr Kuljit remains optimistic. In his words, “there is almost no bleeding, no pain and the patient gets relief the moment he is back in the ward”.
The biggest drawback for sinuplasty remains the cost as it can easily set a patient back by about RM15,000. Nevertheless, Dr Kuljit remains optimistic. In his words, “there is almost no bleeding, no pain and the patient gets relief the moment he is back in the ward”.
Tips for sufferers:
1. Avoid dusty places. If you have to work in a dusty area, wear a mask.
2. Quit smoking.
3. Treat all infections and allergies early.
2. Quit smoking.
3. Treat all infections and allergies early.
Synonyms:
Polyps-polyp
a small vascular growth on the surface of a mucous membrane
Rhinitis-coryza
an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the nose (usually associated with nasal discharge
Saline-saline solution,salt solution
an isotonic solution of sodium chloride and distilled water
a small vascular growth on the surface of a mucous membrane
Rhinitis-coryza
an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the nose (usually associated with nasal discharge
Saline-saline solution,salt solution
an isotonic solution of sodium chloride and distilled water
This is actually an additional information to us. Many of us especially me are lack of information about health. We are familiar with the common disease such as cancer and and many more but not this. What can I conclude is Sinusitis is different with rhinitis which is another disease. And this article mentioned to us about the precaution of this disease.
ReplyDeletevery informative article, you can search more words for the vocabulary quest, don't limit to scientific terms only, go beyond that, the reading quest should be placed on the post itself. Anyway short and nice review. By the way, please state which group you are from...
ReplyDelete