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Sinusitis - chronic

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Definition:

Chronic sinusitis is inflammation of the air-filled spaces (sinuses) behind the forehead, cheeks, and eyes, which continues for a long time or keeps coming back.

See also: Sinusitis

Alternative Names:

Chronic sinus infection; Chronic sinusitis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The sinuses are openings in the bones around the nose. Four pairs of sinuses connect to small openings in the nose area. Normally, air passes in and out of the sinuses, and mucus and fluid drain from the sinuses into the nose.

Sinusitis is usually due to allergies or infection. When sinusitis keeps coming back or continues for a long period of time, it is considered chronic. Causes of chronic sinusitis include a deviated nasal septum or other blockage of the nose that can trap fluid in a sinus. Dental infections such as tooth abscess may spread into the sinus and also lead to chronic sinusitis. Allergy to the aspergillus species of fungus appears to cause a particularly difficult-to-treat form of chronic sinusitis.

Chronic sinusitis is much less common than acute sinusitis. Acute sinusitis is often associated with upper respiratory infections and is covered in a separate article. (See Acute sinusitis ). Chronic sinusitis may produce less severe symptoms than acute sinusitis, but it can cause damage and destruction to the tissues of the sinuses.

• Review Date: 8/8/2006
• Reviewed By: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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