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HOW TO CURE CHRONIC SINUS INFECTIONS PERMANENTLY


Medically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M.D., CAQ, FAAFP — By Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA
on June 18, 2019
 * Causes
 * Medical therapies
 * Sinus surgery
 * Natural remedies
 * Prevention
 * Takeaway

If you have chronic sinus infections, you aren’t alone. An estimated 30.8
million Americans have chronic sinus problems, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source.

Fortunately, if you feel like you’ve tried everything, there are several
solutions that can treat chronic sinusitis permanently.

Read on to find out how to treat chronic sinus infections.


DETERMINE THE UNDERLYING CAUSE

Doctors will try to treat sinusitis with conservative measures whenever
possible. This means they must first determine the underlying cause of your
chronic sinus infections.

Examples include:

 * allergies
 * infections
 * inflammatory disorders
 * a combination of the above causes

To diagnose your condition, a doctor will:

 * listen to your symptoms
 * conduct testing, including using a special tool to look up your nose and into
   your sinus passages
 * collect imaging
 * potentially perform other tests to determine a cause


MEDICAL THERAPIES FOR CHRONIC SINUS INFECTIONS

Once a doctor has diagnosed what’s causing your chronic sinus infections, their
goal will be to:

 * treat the underlying cause (or causes)
 * reduce inflammation that keeps your sinus passages from draining

They usually accomplish this by:

 * thinning nasal secretions
 * prescribing corticosteroids

Ideally, doctors can prescribe medical therapies that clear up chronic sinusitis
symptoms and keep them from coming back.

Depending on the underlying cause, medical therapies may include:


INTRANASAL CORTICOSTEROIDS

Intranasal corticosteroids reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. Examples
include fluticasone (Flonase) and mometasone (Nasonex).

They reduce swelling so mucus can exit the nose more easily and breathing is
enhanced.


ORAL CORTICOSTEROIDS

Oral corticosteroids are pill medications that work like intranasal steroids.
They also have whole-body effects.

Your doctor will usually prescribe short-term oral corticosteroids for chronic
infections that don’t respond to antibiotics because oral steroids have more
side effects than nasal ones.


DECONGESTANTS

These medications work to unblock the sinuses and reduce nasal congestion
symptoms. They’re sold as either nasal sprays or oral medications. Examples
include nasal Afrin or Sudafed.

However, you shouldn’t use nasal decongestant sprays for more than a few days.
They can have a reverse effect if you use them for too long.


SALINE IRRIGATION

Saline irrigation is a simple method. It’s a low-cost way to thin nasal
secretions. Thinner secretions exit the nasal passages more easily, reducing
chronic sinusitis symptoms.

You can purchase saline nose sprays at most pharmacies.


ANTIBIOTICS

Your doctor will perform a special test to obtain cells from inside your nasal
passages. This is more than just a nasal swab.

Your doctor will likely send this sample to a laboratory to determine the type
of pathogen that has infiltrated your nasal passages. They can then prescribe
the right antibiotics to treat your symptoms.


IMMUNOTHERAPY

Some people with chronic sinusitis have the condition as a result of
immunodeficiency-related conditions. Examples include IgA deficiency and C4
deficiency.

Treatment may include prescribing immunotherapy treatments like intravenous
immunoglobulins to enhance the body’s ability to fight infection and
inflammation.

According to an article in the journal American Family Physician, most doctors
think chronic sinusitis is an inflammatory condition.

That’s why they often prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, such as
corticosteroids.


SINUS SURGERY FOR CHRONIC INFECTIONS

If medical therapies don’t clear up chronic sinusitis, your doctor will usually
recommend surgery.

Several surgical approaches can enlarge the sinus cavities to make breathing and
drainage easier. In the past, sinus surgeries required bone and tissue removal.
Recent advancements mean this isn’t the case.


BALLOON SINUPLASTY

Doctors have used balloon sinuplasty as a surgical approach in the United States
since 2004.

Your surgeon will insert a small, balloon-tipped catheter into the sinus
passages. Under imaging guidance, they ensure the catheter is in the right
location and slowly inflates the balloon.

The balloon inflation widens your sinus passages. Once this is complete, your
doctor deflates the balloon and removes the catheter.

Because your doctor doesn’t have to cut out any tissue, your recovery time is
usually shorter with balloon sinuplasty.

However, not all people with chronic sinusitis are good candidates for the
procedure. If cysts or polyps are also blocking your sinus passages, you may not
be a good candidate.


FUNCTIONAL ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY (FESS)

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery or FESS is another approach your doctor may
recommend to treat chronic sinusitis.

An ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon will use a special tool with a lighted
camera on the end to visualize the inside of your nose.

They will then use small instruments to remove excess tissue, nasal polyps, or
nasal cysts to widen your sinuses.

Your ENT surgeon will perform the procedure under anesthesia. They may use
general anesthesia (completely asleep) or conscious sedation (twilight sleep).


SURGERY CONSIDERATIONS

If you choose to have sinus surgery, you’ll still need to use medical therapies
to reduce your symptoms and prevent chronic sinusitis from coming back.

An estimated 75 percentTrusted Source of people who don’t respond to medical
therapies find symptom relief with surgery.


NATURAL REMEDIES FOR CHRONIC SINUS INFECTIONS

Natural remedies for sinus infections may not fully cure your symptoms, but they
can work to reduce them. Examples of these approaches include:

 * Drinking plenty of fluids. Fluids help to thin out mucus, which makes it
   easier to pass through your sinus passages. You know you’re drinking enough
   when your urine is pale yellow.
 * Applying warm compresses. Create a warm compress using a soft washcloth and
   warm (not hot) water. These compresses help to open your sinus passages and
   soothe swollen facial tissues to make breathing easier.
 * Using a neti pot. A neti pot is an alternative to saline nose sprays. You can
   buy these at most drugstores and online. They look like a small tea pot with
   an elongated spout. You fill the pot with sterile water, insert it into one
   nostril, and pour in the water so it comes out the other nostril. Here are
   step-by-step instructions.

In addition to these measures, it’s important to get plenty of rest. Getting
enough sleep at night enables your body time to heal and maintain a healthy
immune system.

HOW TO PREVENT SINUS INFECTIONS

Taking steps to keep your nasal passages draining well can help you avoid sinus
infections. Examples of healthy habits to practice include:

 * Wash your hands regularly, especially after coming in contact with others who
   have colds or other illnesses.
 * Take medications to control your seasonal allergies. Examples include
   over-the-counter allergy medications, such as loratadine (Claritin) or
   cetirizine (Zyrtec).
 * Refrain from smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke whenever possible.
 * Perform nasal irrigation once daily if you’re prone to chronic sinus
   infections.
 * Avoid exposure to dry air. You may inhale steam (such as in a shower) or use
   humidifiers to keep your air moist. This prevents your nasal passages from
   drying out.

You can also ask your doctor for additional prevention recommendations that
target the cause (or causes) of your sinus infection.



TAKEAWAY

Chronic sinusitis can affect your quality of life. Fortunately — through medical
therapies and sometimes surgery — most people can find relief from their
symptoms. Here’s to breathing easier!



Last medically reviewed on June 18, 2019


HOW WE REVIEWED THIS ARTICLE:

Sources
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies,
academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using
tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is
accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
 * Chong L, et al. (2016). Different types of intranasal steroids for chronic
   rhinosinusitis.
   cochrane.org/CD011993/ENT_different-types-intranasal-steroids-chronic-rhinosinusitis
 * Chronic sinusitis. (2017).
   cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/sinuses.htm
 * Kwon E, et al. (2018). Chronic sinusitis.
   ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441934/
 * Sedaghat AR. (2017). Chronic rhinosinusitis.
   aafp.org/afp/2017/1015/p500.html
 * Sinusitis. (n.d.).
   aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/sinusitis
 * Weber RK, et al. (2015). Comprehensive review on endonasal endoscopic sinus
   surgery. DOI:
   10.3205/cto000123

Share this article


Medically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M.D., CAQ, FAAFP — By Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA
on June 18, 2019


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