3 Most Common Nose and Sinus Conditions, Symptoms, and When to See a Doctor

3 Most Common Nose and Sinus Conditions, Symptoms, and When to See a Doctor

Next

Previous

The nose and sinus conditions topic rarely comes up in discussions. This is presumably common since most of the nose and sinus disorders often go away on their own or can be managed by OTC medications.

That best explains why not very many people are familiar with these disorders. In Singapore,Dr. Dennis Chua helps patients diagnose and manage an array of nasal and sinus infections.

With a core specialty as an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeon, Dr. Chua assures patients of less painful and less invasive procedures but with exceptional results. He is also board certified by the International Board of Facial Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery, giving each patient peace of mind knowing they’re in safe hands.

Which Diseases or Disorders Affect the Nose and Sinus?

Several diseases and disorders affect the nose and sinuses. The risk factors of suffering from these disorders vary significantly with some of them linked to old age, and lifestyle factors. Here are the three common diseases and disorders of the nose and sinus you may want to know.

I. Sinusitis

Sinusitis is one of the most nose and sinus disorders with its global treatment market expected to hit $50.42 billion in 2024. It is an inflammation of the sinus that may result from an infection.

It may also be caused by nasal allergy reaction, virus, or fungal infection. You may also get sinusitis from injuries to your facial bones or diseases like cystic fibrosis.

Sinusitis Symptoms

I. Fever

II. Cough

III. Weakness

IV. Congestion and

V. Fatigue

It may also come with a postnasal drip, which is drainage at the back of your throat. Sinusitis can be managed by pain relievers, antibiotics, decongestants, saline sprays, or heat pads.

Acute sinusitis usually lasts for a short time. However, an acute infection may come with respiratory illness, cold and related complications. You should make an appointment with your doctor for sinus infection treatment if you experience; facial pain, nasal discharge, fever, and congestion that keeps on recurring or persists for more than ten days.

II. Nasal polyps with loss of smell

Nasal polyps are tiny, sack-like growths that may develop in the lining of your sinuses or nose. Typically, they hang down from your nasal lining, looking like raindrops.

Common causes of nasal polyps include recurrent infections, some immune disorders, allergies, drug sensitivity, and asthma. Nasal polyps may grow and block your nasal airway, thus causing breathing complications and even more sinusitis.

Common symptoms of nasal polyps include;

I. Reduced or loss of sense of smell or taste

II. Stuffy or runny nose

III. Snoring

IV. Facial pain or headache

V. Pressure over your face or forehead

VI. Pain in your upper teeth and postnasal drip

Frequent nose bleeds

Polyps can be managed by medications that shrink them, but you may need surgery to eliminate the polyps in severe cases. You should see a qualified doctor if these symptoms last for more than ten days or get severe with time.

III. Deviated Septum

The septum separates the two halves in your sinuses. Typically, it’s a bone covered up in a mucous membrane.

Usually, the septum should sit at the center of the two halves in your sinuses. If it isn’t at the center, it is a deviated septum.

A deviated septum may impact the drainage of your sinuses, resulting in recurrent sinus infections. In children, it causes noisy breathing when they sleep, and for adults, you may notice these symptoms;

IV. Frequent nosebleeds

V. Congestion or blockage in one or both of your nostrils

VI. Postnasal drip

Headaches and
Facial pain

It is prudent to book an appointment with your doctor for a deviated septum if the symptoms persist for more than ten days, and you also experience difficulty sleeping. The doctor may recommend surgery, medically known as septoplasty, to straighten and help you reposition your septum.

What Happens if you let Nose and Sinus Conditions go Untreated?

Ideally, it isn’t a good idea to let any nose or sinus condition go untreated. To begin with, your primary care doctor will most certainly give you medications to manage your symptoms.

However, if the symptoms persist or get severe, they’ll recommend that you see an ENT specialist. The specialist will then examine your nasal and throat region when necessary.

They may also put you on specific tests and recommend medications or surgical procedures, depending on what they make of your diagnostic results. For example, an appointment with specialists, like ENT surgeons, gives you the best chance of differentiating conditions that may come with similar symptoms and differentiating acute from chronic conditions, as is the case with sinusitis.

Nose and sinus conditions manifest themselves in a plethora of ways. If you let your condition go untreated, you’ll continue experiencing discomfort until the symptoms begin to clear up. If you aren’t lucky, severe conditions like sinusitis may progress to meningitis, which is a brain abscess, or bone infection.