What is the difference: sinusitis and sinusitis. The course of the disease, the causes, symptoms and characteristics of treatment

Sometimes it happens not just a common cold, but a more serious inflammatory disease associated with the nose. Most often it happens in a dank autumn weather. And then, coming back from the otolaryngologist, you have to think: "What's the difference?".Sinusitis and sinusitis, rhinitis, sphenoiditis and etmoiditis, frontitis - often these names and to utter it is difficult. However, there are differences between them, and if one of these diseases touched the person himself or someone close to him, it will be useful to understand this.

What is a sine?

Before you figure out what the difference between sinusitis and sinusitis is, a little theoretical knowledge is needed. Strictly speaking, a sine is not only a mathematical term. Sinuses in medicine are also called paranasal sinuses. These are three paired and one unpaired air cavities located in the skull and directly connected with the main cavity of the nose. They begin to form in utero, and their development continues throughout childhood, as the skull grows. To understand what sinusitis and sinusitis are, what is the difference between them, and if there is any at all, it is possible, if one has an idea of ​​why nasal sinuses are needed, where they are located, how they are called and why they sometimes become inflamed. It is in these sinuses that inflammatory processes occur in the so-called sinusitis.

Types and purpose of the paranasal sinuses

So, the anatomy of the human skull is such that the nasal cavity is connected with its paranasal sinuses by narrow passages. Two frontal sinuses are located above the eyebrows. A pair of maxillary - maxillary - sinuses is localized in the region of the wings of the nose. There are latticed sinuses on both sides of the bridge of the nose. In the depth of the skull is located a single sphenoid sinus.

What is the purpose of these air cavities, to the end is not clear. But there is an opinion that in this way nature has taken care of reducing the mass of the human skull. It is also possible that the sinuses to some extent play the role of buffers in injuries. There are also more obvious their functions: in these cavities the warm air is warmed and humidified, with the help of which a unique timbre of voice is created.

The inflammatory process, called sinusitis, is able to concentrate in any of the available sinuses - that's the difference. Sinusitis and sinusitis are only the most famous terms, in fact there are more of them.

What are sinusitis?

Sinusitis - one of the most frequent inflammations of the sinuses of the nose - this is nothing more than a private kind of sinusitis. Therefore, strictly speaking, such a statement of the question - how does sinusitis differ from sinusitis, what is the difference between them - is incorrect. In sinusitis, one or both of the maxillary sinuses are inflamed. On the second place in the rating of the frequency of lesions is the latticed labyrinth, and its inflammation is called etmoiditis. Inflammation of the frontal and sphenoid sinuses is called respectively the frontitis and sphenoiditis.

But all this - sinusitis, and on hearing in people who do not have medical education, most often such diseases as sinusitis and sinusitis. The specialist will always explain if the patient asks what the difference is: sinusitis and sinusitis are essentially the same disease, only the first term is broader, collective. The diagnosis of "sinusitis" means that sinusitis is located in the maxillary sinuses.

The main causes of inflammation of the sinuses

As mentioned above, sinusitis is an inflammatory process. By the way, various deformations and anomalies of the structure of the nose can contribute to it: curvature of the nasal septum, too narrow sinuses, the presence of polyps. Most often, viral diseases result in sinusitis. It happens less often that the bacteria cause sinusitis. Against the background of a weakening of immunity, sinusitis can be provoked by a fungal infection. Still worth mentioning is that sinusitis can be allergic in nature and develop against a background of hay fever.

Whatever the original reason, as a result, the mucous membrane of the sinuses becomes inflamed and swollen, they cease to be cleaned normally and ventilated, the secret stagnates. So develops any sinusitis and sinusitis. What is the difference - this is in the dislocation of the inflammatory process in this or that cavity.

Risk factors for diseases

In addition to those listed, there are additional reasons that, with prolonged exposure, can lead to sinusitis. In case of serious and chronic problems with the teeth, the accompanying infections and bacteria may well provoke the appearance of sinusitis. In addition, if the lifestyle or work of a person is associated with constant changes in atmospheric pressure - frequent flights, for example - the narrowing of the sinuses can lead to their blocking, and, as a consequence, provoke sinusitis. Chronic inhalation of air polluted by cigarette smoke or industrial substances can cause damage to the ciliated epithelium, which is responsible for the evacuation of mucus from the sinuses. The result is its stagnation, the consequence is sinusitis and sinusitis, the differences between which we have already clarified.

Symptoms of sinuses

Symptoms of sinusitis, and sinusitis including, include a number of common signs. Sinusitis is necessarily accompanied by a headache. Almost always the patient is concerned about the stuffy nose and runny nose, which can be of varying intensity. At the same time itching in the nose and sneezing is possible, the voice becomes nasal, and the sense of smell almost disappears. Perhaps the appearance of bad breath. With the course of the disease, the general condition of a person worsens too: the temperature rises, shivering, the patient experiences weakness, the appetite disappears. Many symptoms, as you can see, resemble ARVI, and some are specific.

It is understood that depending on which of the paranasal sinuses the inflammatory process has affected, the symptoms may differ. It is necessary to imagine the difference. Sinusitis, and sinusitis, too, as already mentioned, necessarily accompanied by pain, but they can be localized in different ways. And when the patient complains that the head is hurting, the doctor will necessarily ask what the nature of this pain is, and where, in fact, it is concentrated.

With frontal sinus inflammation - frontitis - strong, burgeoning pain sensations will be in the forehead and eye area, with possible edema of the upper eyelid. This is a very dangerous form of sinusitis, since in the absence of appropriate treatment, inflammation can spread to the brain.

If the maxillary, maxillary sinuses are inflamed, then it is a matter of sinusitis. The pain in this case may resemble a dental one - the upper jaw will hurt, and the pain sensations will increase when the cheeks are pressed.

With infections in the sinuses of the trellis labyrinth, the pain extends to the bridge of the nose, the wings of the nose, and the eyes. This is an ethmoiditis, and, since the latticed sinuses are located deep enough, complications can arise serious.

Sphenoiditis - an inflammation of the sphenoid sinus - is rare, but sometimes it is a complication of ethmoiditis. The neck, the back of the neck, and the upper part of the head ache. Inflammation can spread to the optic nerves, which is very dangerous.

Treatment of sinusitis

Finding out what the difference between these terms is sinusitis and sinusitis is the difference, it would be nice to learn about the treatment of different types of sinusitis. Do not rush to drink antibiotics. They will help only in the case of bacterial sinusitis, and it is much less common than viral. Antibiotics are powerless against viruses.

Thus, the first thing to do is to remove pain, reduce the swelling of the mucous membranes and ensure the removal of excess mucus and pus from the sinuses. As for drugs, antibiotics, antihistamines and decongestants should be prescribed by a doctor. In advanced cases, even surgery may be required.

Non-pharmacological treatment at home is possible only with such sinusitis, which are not accompanied by a sharp course of infection. Rinsing and irrigation of the nasal cavity, copious drinking, steam inhalations - these are the measures that can alleviate the condition of the patient.

Prophylaxis of sinusitis

It's all simple: to avoid complications in the form of sinusitis, you need to thoroughly cure any kind of rhinitis, in time to treat the teeth, if necessary adjust the anatomical abnormalities in the nasal cavity, and work on strengthening immunity.