Chronic sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis is a relatively common condition where patients will experience persistent nasal and sinus congestion sometimes with nasal discharge. They often feel tired in the mornings when the congestion is worse.

The diagnosis is made mainly on symptoms and on examining the nasal cavity (this may involve using a flexible camera inside the nose, there may be evidence of swelling at the site where the sinuses drain, mucus drainage and sometimes polyps.

Sometimes CT or MRI scans are needed to clarify the diagnosis and to plan for surgrery

Treatment

This is in the form of nasal steroid medication and a prolonged course of antibiotics.

Most patients respond to medication and for those who do not then there is the option of surgery to ventilate the sinues (endoscopic sinus surgery