How to manage sinus problems (1)

Rotimi Adesanya

Rotimi Adesanya

Child and Public Health Physician
[email protected]
Sinus infection, the cause of untold misery among the afflicted, strikes about 200 million people worldwide.

On the surface, the cause of the infection is not difficult to identify. It is a blockage of tiny holes that connect your nasal passages to your sinuses (basically a collection of hollow, moist cavities that lurk beneath your nose, eyes, and cheeks). When gunk builds up in your sinuses, germs may grow and make you feel, well, hideous.

But the cause of the blockage is sometimes trickier to figure out. A young man shared his ordeal with me during a medical mission on an island in Epe, Lagos.

He was sent by the community health worker to our diabetes and hypertension screening. His test was within normal range and he was counselled on the need to be referred to a secondary facility for treatment. He later opened up and told me his medical history.

The man’s story: “I am 38 years-old and I have suffered from chronic sinusitis all my life. As a child, I was always going to the paediatrician, but as soon as one infection cleared up, another would start. It has been this way ever since.

“I was scheduled for surgery by an ENT surgeon but declined due to fear. I have had allergy injections three times a week for my whole life. I’m allergic to pets, dust mite, groundnut and mould. Of course, irritants like smoke, air pollution and smells of chemical substances make life even worse.

“I’m constantly on antibiotics, steroids, nasal spray and allergy medication. My sinus infections often turn into bronchitis (lung infection) and this last time, into viral pneumonia. I cough constantly, lose sleep, miss work and catch any virus going around. Now, I’ve been diagnosed with migraine and cluster headaches that are triggered by the sinus headaches. All this has made me become frustrated.”

This piece is meant to sensitise the general population to how debilitating sinus infections can be or how much we suffer as a result.

Sinusitis, or a sinus infection, occurs when the sinuses and nasal passages become inflamed and swollen (as illustrated in the picture). Acute sinusitis can last up to four weeks, while chronic sinusitis typically lasts more than four weeks and occurs more than four times in a year.


Acute sinusitis can be caused by upper respiratory tract viral infection, such as common cold or bacterial/fungal infections, allergies, and environmental irritants.

Chronic sinusitis can result from recurring episodes of acute sinusitis or it can be caused by other health conditions, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, immune disorders or structural abnormalities in the nose, such as deviated septum or nasal polyps.

Enlarged adenoids, cleft palate and tumours can also lead to chronic sinusitis.

Risk factors

-Young children are prone to colds and may have between eight and 12 bouts every year. Smaller nasal and sinus passages make children more vulnerable; while ear infections, such as otitis media, are also associated with sinusitis. Nevertheless, true sinusitis is very rare in children under nine years of age.



-Some hospitalised patients are at higher risk for sinusitis, particularly those with head injuries or those whose conditions require insertion of tubes through the nose. Again, those whose breathing is aided by mechanical ventilators and those whose immune system have been weakened are all susceptible to sinusitis.

-People who experience changes in atmospheric pressure, such as while flying, climbing high altitudes, or swimming, risk sinus blockage and therefore an increased risk of developing sinusitis

-Air pollution from industrial chemicals, cigarette smoke or other pollutants can damage the cilia responsible for moving mucus through the sinuses.

General symptoms

Sinus symptoms are very common during a cold or the flu, but in most cases, they are due to the effects of the infecting virus and resolve when the infection does. Nasal congestion or discharge, itchy nose, eyes, facial pain or pressure, cough or scratchy throat, fever, diminished or absent sense of smell, recurrent sneezing, sinus headache, migraine and/or cluster headaches, ear pain or pressure, dental pain, bad breath and fatigue, are common symptoms of sinusitis.

Symptoms indicating medical emergency

Both eyes may be red, bulging or painful if the sinus infection occurs around the eyes. Swelling and drooping eyelid, loss of eye movement (possible orbital infection, which is in the eye socket), development of severe headache, altered vision, a soft swelling over the bone (indicative of bone infection) are all signs that you should see your doctor immediately.

To be concluded.

 Copyright PUNCH.               

Contact: [email protected]


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