The sinuses are located in the facial bones behind and around the nasal cavity and also empties into the nasal cavity. They are coated with mucous membranes and the entrance to the nasal cavity is often somewhat constricted causing the outflow to become obstructed. One of the functions of the sinuses is contributing to heating and moistening the inhaled air. The sinus surface is coated with a mucous membrane with ciliae which can whisk away vira and bacteria and direct them to immune system cells which will then fight them off.
If the passage is clogged, an infection will arise sooner or later. This also goes for the sinuses. The cause for the narrow passage from the sinuses could be a hereditary predisposition or frequent infections with swelling of the nasal mucosa and the sinus itself. The mucus that is constantly being produced in the sinuses can become so viscous that it cannot easily escape the cavity - this could happen if you do not drink enough fluid or if you are exposed to extremely dry air or dust pollution. Tobacco smoke can also irritate the mucous membranes which also reduces the anti-inflammatory resistance.
At one time, an estimated 10% of all cases of chronic sinusitis were believed to be caused by allergy towards certain fungi. New research, however, indicates that it is not so much a case of allergy as some other kind of immune reaction taking place. This may also be the explanation to the fact that antihistamines do not have a great effect on this suffering.
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, U.S., have carried out this new reseach. When they were in the process of developing a new technique for examining the nasal mucosa, they found that fungi were the probable cause of chronic sinusitis in 202 out of 210 test samples.
Maxillary sinusitis can arise in relation to periodontitis in one of the teeth of the upper part of the mouth.
The diagnosis of sinusitis can be made based on the symptoms: a runny nose with yellowish inflammation and tenderness across the sinuses. The pains are often throbbing and are located to the cheek and teeth. A well-proven method for diagnosing the condition is to stand up straight and then bow your head downwards. In case of maxillary sinusitis, the pain and oppression will mainly be located to the cheeks and there will also be a feeling of oppression in the head. If the pains are mainly located to the head, however, this indicates frontal sinusitis.
Inflammation of the teeth can be confused with facial pains. An examination by an ear, nose, and throat specialist combined with a CT scan or X-ray examination will be able to determine fogging of the sinuses in case of sinusitis. If there are doubts as to the existence of inflammation, this can be decided with a blood test (CRP level).
