Is that winter sniffle a cold or sinusitis?
Four common seasonal respiratory viruses are circulating in the UK this Winter, in what has been dubbed the ‘quad-demic‘ by NHS leaders who have seen a sharp rise in hospital admissions for cases of flu, norovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19.
Viral infections, bacterial infections, allergies, and asthma are often the cause of most cases of sinusitis. Underlying conditions like chronic sinusitis or allergic rhinitis can also worsen the symptoms of the cold or flu.
“Some people do suffer from a higher frequency of viral infections,” explains ENT surgeon Mr Annakan Navaratnam. “You can take precautions such as washing your hands or staying away from people coughing and sputtering, but contact avoidance is challenging if you live in a city or you’re dealing with people daily.”
“If you have allergic rhinitis or chronic rhinosinusitis, ensure you’re taking your regular nasal medications, including topical nasal steroids and or antihistamines if required.
“An acute viral infection is usually self-limiting in most cases. It will typically last five to seven days and so focus on symptom relief. Use decongestants for a short period of time (not longer than one week), such as Otrivine or Sudafed, and make sure you’re using saltwater wash to rinse any discharge from the nose.”
The difference between a cold and sinusitis
The paranasal sinuses may be small, but they can cause much misery. These four pairs of air-filled interconnected cavities are located behind your cheekbones, nose, and forehead above your eyes. Along with the nasal passages, your sinuses produce and circulate mucus, which protects you from infections by trapping and moving germs out of the body
Signs of a sinus infection to look out for include:
- Pain in different parts of your face: You may experience discomfort or pain in and around your sinuses, which are on your forehead, cheeks, and behind the nose. You may also experience pain in your upper jaw and teeth.
- Nasal congestion: Infected sinuses become inflamed and swollen, which can feel like a blocked nose.
- Nasal discharge: This thick discharge can be green or yellow and drain into your nose.
- Coughing: If the discharge goes down into your throat, it can irritate and cause you to cough.
- Headache: Swollen sinuses can cause pressure that leads to a headache.
- Bad breath: The nasal discharge can even cause bad breath.
“If symptoms last more than a week, and you’re experiencing discomfort across the mid-face, developing discharge from the nose and have a raised temperature, then it may be a bacterial infection. At that point, it’s worth seeing your GP or healthcare provider for a short course of broad-spectrum antibiotics such as Amoxicillin combined with nasal decongestants or steroids.
“However, if your symptoms persist beyond that and, even after a course of antibiotics, you’re getting further infections, or they’re lasting for months on end, then you should consider getting reviewed by a specialist.
“There’s a role for regular steroid medication, to decrease inflammation, allowing the sinuses to drain, but ultimately, in those cases, someone needs to look inside the nose to see if there’s evidence of significant sinusitis or the presence of nasal polyps that may require more advanced treatment medically but also potentially surgically.”
To diagnose sinusitis, call +44 (0)203 627 2918 or email secretary@annakan.co.uk to arrange a consultation with ENT surgeon Mr Annakan Navaratnam.
