Sinusitis
Sinusitis is swelling of the sinuses, usually caused by an infection. It’s common and usually clears up on its own within 2 to 3 weeks. But medicines can help if it’s taking a long time to go away.
What is Sinusitis?
Sinusitis is an inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses. Sinuses make mucus, which keeps the inside of the nose moist. That, in turn, helps protect against dust, allergens and pollutants.
Healthy sinuses are filled with air. But when they become blocked and filled with fluid, germs can grow and cause an infection.
How to check if you have Sinusitis
Sinusitis is common after a cold or flu.
Symptoms of sinusitis include:
- Pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead
- A blocked nose
- A reduced sense of smell
- Green or tallow mucus from your nose
- A sinus headache
- High temperature
- Toothache
- Bad breath
Signs of sinusitis in young children may also include irritability, difficulty feeding, and breathing through their mouth.
How you can treat sinusitis
You can often treat mild sinusitis without seeing a GP by:
- Getting plenty of rest
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Taking painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
- Avoiding allergic triggers and not smoking
- Cleaning your nose with a salt water solution to ease congestion.
If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people util you feel better.
Treatments for Sinusitis
A pharmacist can advise you about medicines that can help such as:
- Decongestant nasal sprays or drops to unblock your nose (not recommended for children under 6)
- Salt water nasal sprays or solutions to rinse out the inside of your nose.
You can book a free appointment with one of our pharmacists today and get assessed and treated remotely.