The Austrian Society for Otolaryngology stated that sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the sinuses, noting that it can be attributed to several causes, primarily bacterial or viral infections. It added that other causes include allergies and respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as anatomical abnormalities that hinder sinus ventilation, such as a deviated nasal septum and large nasal polyps, along with smoking.
Symptoms of sinusitis include purulent nasal discharge, complete nasal obstruction, diminished sense of smell and taste, foul odor from the mouth, as well as headache, a feeling of pressure in the head, nasal swelling, fever, and fatigue.
Sinusitis can be treated with decongestant and mucolytic medications. In cases of bacterial infections, antibiotics are used. For anatomical issues like a deviated septum and large polyps, surgery may be necessary to correct the deviation or remove the polyps.
