Sinus Infections Q & A
What is a sinus infection?
A sinus infection, medically known as sinusitis, is an infection that specifically targets the cavities of your nasal passages. In the early stages, the infection causes inflammation in your sinuses.
Because your nasal passages are already swollen, they can’t drain efficiently. This causes mucus to build up, which often makes it difficult for you to breathe through your nose.
Sinusitis can stem from a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. In many cases, frequent or chronic sinus infections develop because you have undiagnosed allergies. While having allergic sinusitis doesn’t mean you’re sick, like you are with a bacterial infection, the signs and symptoms are very similar.
Can I tell if I have a sinus infection?
Oftentimes, yes. Sinus infections are known for causing severe inflammation in your sinuses, which can lead to:
- Postnasal drip or congestion
- Facial tenderness or swelling
- Teeth pain or bad breath
- Reduced sense of smell
- Widespread fatigue
Some sufferers of frequent sinus infections even complain of severe headaches or migraines. You might also have varying degrees of several of the symptoms during each sinus infection.
Why do I have frequent sinus infections?
An occasional sinus infection usually isn’t anything to worry about. But because pain and pressure from frequent rhinosinusitis can become so debilitating they affect your sleep and daily life, it’s important to find the cause. You could be prone to developing frequent sinus infections due to:
- Frequent exposure to pollution or secondhand smoke
- Hay fever or allergies
- Nasal passage abnormalities, like polyps
- Immune system disorders
It isn’t always known why some men, women, and children have recurrent rhinosinusitis, but the team at Allergy Testing Center will strive to get to the root of your sinus issues and design a plan to get you breathing right again.
Most people who suffer from recurrent sinus infections benefit from having allergy testing or other specialized testing to determine if they have an immunoglobulin deficiency, which means you don’t have adequate antibodies to fight off infections.
If you’re allergic, your treatment plan could involve immunotherapy, which involves getting a series of allergy shots to boost your immune system. If your immune system doesn’t make enough antibodies to fight rhinosinusitis, you may benefit from certain vaccinations to boost your immunity. When vaccinations don’t provide adequate benefit, the team at Allergy Testing Center have other options to prevent ongoing infections.
Book your sinus infection appointment at Allergy Testing Center online or by calling your closest office.