The sinuses are air filled spaces within the bones of the face. They are very small when we are born and get larger as we grow, No one knows the purpose of these in our body. It is suggested that they add resonance to our voice and act as "crumple zones" to protect the cranial cavity behind in case of trauma to the face.
Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses most often caused by infection.
, via Wikimedia Commons"> Image: OpenStax College, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsThey are often referred to as the paranasal sinuses because they are close to and are linked to the nose. The two largest sinuses, the maxillary and frontal sinuses are largely responsible for the pain and discomfort when inflamed.
The maxillary sinus is located below the eyes and above the top teeth. Inflammation of the maxillary sinus will often cause pain or tenderness in or around the eyes, top back teeth and over the cheeks.
The frontal sinus is located above the eyes in the forehead area between the outer and inner surfaces of the bones of the cranium (skull). Inflammation of the frontal sinus will often cause headaches, forehead tenderness and eye pain.
Sinusitis is common after a cold or the flu. It can be caused by the same viruses as cold and flu but can be caused by a bacterial infection.
The symptoms of sinusitis can be similar to a cold or flu and can include:
- Pain and tenderness around the eyes, cheeks and forehead which is made worse on bending down
- Toothache from top back teeth
- Blocked nose and reduced sense of smell
- Mucus discharge from your nose
- High temperature
- Bad breath
Sinusitis can take up to three weeks to settle. You can treat the symptoms yourself. Stay hydrated and rest. Pain killers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen will help with pain. To ease congestion a salt water solution can be used to sniff into the nostrils. There is a good explanation on the NHS website. Decongestant nasal sprays or drops can be obtained from a pharmacy. Nasal decongestants must not be used for more than one week. Pelargonium can be used for treating sinusitis. From a recent review of the research there is evidence to support this.
You should see you GP if your symptoms do not begin to improve after more than a week. Your GP might recommend stronger nasal sprays or antibiotics. If your symptoms last for months then you might be referred to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.
Sinus symptoms from only one side?
If you only have sinus pain from one side in your face, it could be due to an infection from a tooth in the top jaw. You would be advised to see your dentist first to rule out such a cause before going to see your doctor. The teeth in the top jaw are very close to the sinus, sometimes the roots protrude into the sinus space with only a thin layer of bone over them. Infection from a tooth can spread to the sinuses.