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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffWith acute sinusitis, the cavities around your nasal passages (sinuses) become inflamed and swollen. This interferes with drainage and causes mucus to build up. This common condition is also called acute rhinosinusitis.
With acute sinusitis, it may be difficult to breathe through your nose. The area around your eyes and face may feel swollen, and you may have throbbing facial pain or a headache.
Acute sinusitis is most often caused by the common cold. Other triggers include bacteria, allergies and fungal infections. Treatment of acute sinusitis depends on the cause. In most cases, home remedies are all that's needed. However, persistent sinusitis can lead to serious infections and other complications. Sinusitis that lasts more than eight weeks, or keeps coming back, is known as chronic sinusitis.
- Hwang P, et al. Acute sinusitis and rhinosinusitis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 16, 2008.
- Leung R, et al. The diagnosis and management of acute and chronic sinusitis. Primary Care. 2008;35:11-24.
- Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters for Allergy and Immunology. The diagnosis and management of sinusitis: A practice parameter update. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2005;116(6)(suppl):13-47.
- Fungal sinusitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 16, 2008.
