Knowing the Different Kinds of Sinusitis

Every year, approximately 16% of the United States population develops sinusitis, making it one of the most common annually diagnosed conditions. Sinusitis, or a sinus infection, happens when the lining of your sinus cavity becomes inflamed. 

Your sinuses are the hollow spaces in your forehead, behind your cheekbones, and between your eyes. The cavities fill with air and create mucus to make your nose moist and keep germs out. If your sinuses become inflamed, the fluid thickens and becomes stuck, creating the perfect place for germs to grow and trigger sinusitis development. 

There are multiple types of sinusitis, and they’re divided into categories based on how long the infection lasts and what causes it in the first place. 

Our team, led by Chad W. Mayer, DO, FAAAAI, FAAP, at Allergy and Asthma Institute of Southeast Michigan in Farmington Hills, Michigan, wants you to better understand the different types of sinusitis because some of them can stem from an underlying allergy issue. 

So, this blog explores each type to help you discover if your sinusitis could be due to allergies.

Acute sinusitis 

Acute sinusitis is a more common and short-lived version of sinus inflammation. Symptoms of acute sinusitis include a runny or stuffy nose, postnasal drip, headaches,  and facial pain. 

Most often, acute sinusitis is triggered by viruses such as the common cold, meaning antibiotics won’t work to eliminate the short-term infection. When acute sinusitis is from a virus, drinking lots of fluids and getting plenty of rest is the way to beat it. Over-the-counter pain relievers and nasal sprays can help provide symptom relief. 

Acute sinusitis can also develop from seasonal allergies. If you find that acute sinusitis is a frequent visitor, spring, summer, or fall-specific allergens might be to blame. 

Chronic sinusitis 

Chronic sinusitis has similar symptoms to acute sinusitis, but it lasts much longer, more than three months. Your initial symptoms may fade, but you can have long-term congestion and postnasal drip along with a lingering cough that’s most severe at night and right away in the morning.

In some cases, chronic sinusitis can be caused by a fungal infection. But you’re most at risk for chronic sinusitis if you have nasal polyps, a weakened immune system, or allergies. 

Recurrent sinusitis 

Having an occasional case of acute sinusitis is normal since it often stems from the common cold. However, if you develop acute sinusitis regularly, meaning it goes away and then comes back at least four times per year, you may have recurrent sinusitis. 

If your sinuses are always inflamed, it puts you at a higher risk of a sinus infection to return. Those who struggle with seasonal or environmental allergies are at risk for recurrent sinusitis since regular exposure to allergens can inflame your sinuses. 

Allergic sinusitis 

When you deal with allergic sinusitis, regular exposure to allergens inflames your sinuses, making it more difficult for your sinuses to drain infectious bacteria.

Allergic sinusitis makes you much more vulnerable to chronic (or recurrent) sinusitis, and you could deal with lingering symptoms all year round. 

With allergic sinusitis, it’s important to seek allergy care from Dr. Mayer and the Allergy and Asthma Institute of Southeast Michigan team, to relieve symptoms and completely flush out the infection. 

We can help identify the allergens that are leading to recurrent or chronic sinusitis and create an allergy treatment plan that helps you avoid allergens and treat symptoms. 

Schedule an appointment with our team for expert sinusitis care by calling our office or using our online booking feature today.