The Eyes & Sinus Infections
**Sinusitis, or a sinus infection, is a common medical condition that affects 10 million to 15 million people each year, notes the Merck Manual Home Health Handbook 12. Characterized by pain or pressure between the eyes and around the forehead and nose, the condition can last weeks or months. While most infections disappear on their own, in severe cases, a sinus infection can cause life-threatening disease and vision loss, warns Dr. Jay M. Dutton of the American Rhinologic Society 26.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Causes
A sinus infection occurs when sinuses -- empty cavities behind your cheeks, nose and around your eyes -- become swollen, preventing mucus from properly draining into the nasal passages, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2. A bacterial infection from an upper respiratory tract infection, which often begins as a cold, is the most frequent cause of a sinus infection 2. Other causes include allergies, fungal infections, pollutants and a blockage or abnormality in the nasal passage.
Types
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There are four types of sinusitis — acute, sub-acute, chronic or recurrent 4. Acute sinusitis may last up to four weeks, while sub-acute may last four to 12 weeks and chronic may last three months or longer, according to MedlinePlus 34. Three or more episodes of a sinus infection every year is known as recurrent sinusitis, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology adds 25.
Symptoms
**An infection in the sinuses between the eyes and on either side of the nasal cavity, results in pain behind and between the eyes, a telltale sign of sinusitis, the Merck Manual Home Health Handbook notes 12. Accompanying this pain is often tearing and a headache over the forehead. Similarly, an infection of the sinuses in the cheekbones can also cause pain just below the eyes as well as a headache and toothache 2.
Treatment
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Various medical options are available to treat a sinus infection, depending on its cause and severity 2. Your doctor may prescribe a decongestant to help drain the sinuses and relieve pressure, a mucus-thinning medication, or a steroid nasal spray to reduce swelling to open the nasal passages, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology notes 5. If you are suffering from severe swelling around your eyes, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic. Other treatments include an antifungal medicine, or surgery if a nasal abnormality is the cause.
Prevention
Avoid contact with people suffering from a cold and wash hands frequently to reduce your chances of developing an upper respiratory tract infection 2. Maintain a diet rich in fruits and vegetables to boost your immune system and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid smoke and pollutants, and use a humidifier to keep air moist.
Complications
An infection of the sinuses above or below and between and behind the eyes can cause the infection to spread to the eye, resulting in complications ranging from swelling of the eyelid and an infection of the tissue surrounding the eye, to vision loss and even blindness, note MayoClinic.com and the American Rhinologic Society 246.
Related Articles
References
- “Merck Manual Home Health Handbook”; Robert S. Porter et al.; 2009
- CDC: Sinus Infection
- MedlinePlus: Sinusitis
- MayoClinic.com: Acute Sinusitis
- American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology
- American Rhinologic Society: Complications of Sinusitis
- Battisti AS, Pangia J. Sinusitis. [Updated 2019 Jun 18]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-.
- de Camargo RA, Nicodemo AC, Sumi DV, et al. Facial structure alterations and abnormalities of the paranasal sinuses on multidetector computed tomography scans of patients with treated mucosal leishmaniasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014;8(7):e3001. Published 2014 Jul 31. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003001
- Naclerio RM, Bachert C, Baraniuk JN. Pathophysiology of nasal congestion. Int J Gen Med. 2010;3:47–57. Published 2010 Apr 8.
- InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Sinusitis: Overview. 2009 Feb 9 [Updated 2018 Oct 18].
- Worrall G. Acute sinusitis. Can Fam Physician. 2011;57(5):565–567.
- Ah-See KW, Evans AS. Sinusitis and its management. BMJ. 2007;334(7589):358–361. doi:10.1136/bmj.39092.679722.BE
- Benevides GN, Salgado GA Jr, Ferreira CR, Felipe-Silva A, Gilio AE. Bacterial sinusitis and its frightening complications: subdural empyema and Lemierre syndrome. Autops Case Rep. 2015;5(4):19–26. Published 2015 Dec 30. doi:10.4322/acr.2015.029
- Silveira MLC, Anselmo-lima WT, Faria FM, et al. Impact of early detection of acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis in immunocompromised patients. BMC Infect Dis. 2019;19(1):310.
- Kwon E, O'Rourke MC. Chronic Sinusitis. [Updated 2018 Nov 18]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-.
- D'anza B, Stokken J, Greene JS, Kennedy T, Woodard TD, Sindwani R. Chronic invasive fungal sinusitis: characterization and shift in management of a rare disease. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2016;6(12):1294-1300.
- Benevides GN, Salgado GA Jr, Ferreira CR, Felipe-Silva A, Gilio AE. Bacterial sinusitis and its frightening complications: subdural empyema and Lemierre syndrome. Autops Case Rep. 2015;5(4):19–26. Published 2015 Dec 30. doi:10.4322/acr.2015.029
- Ah-See KW, Evans AS. Sinusitis and its management. BMJ. 2007;334(7589):358–361. doi:10.1136/bmj.39092.679722.BE
- Lee S, Lane AP. Chronic rhinosinusitis as a multifactorial inflammatory disorder. Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2011;13(2):159–168. doi:10.1007/s11908-011-0166-z
- Jiang RS, Huang WC, Liang KL. Characteristics of Sinus Fungus Ball: A Unique Form of Rhinosinusitis. Clin Med Insights Ear Nose Throat. 2018;11:1179550618792254. Published 2018 Aug 3. doi:10.1177/1179550618792254
- Min JY, Tan BK. Risk factors for chronic rhinosinusitis. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;15(1):1–13. doi:10.1097/ACI.0000000000000128
- Zhang Z, Adappa ND, Lautenbach E, et al. The effect of diabetes mellitus on chronic rhinosinusitis and sinus surgery outcome. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2014;4(4):315–320. doi:10.1002/alr.21269
- Lin YH, Chang TS, Yao YC, Li YC. Increased Risk of Chronic Sinusitis in Adults With Gastroesophgeal Reflux Disease: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015;94(39):e1642. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000001642
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Writer Bio
Julie Saccone is a senior communications specialist and former journalist who began writing in 2003. She works in the health-care industry distilling research findings and complex medical topics for media and trade publications. Saccone has been published in newspapers including the "National Post" and "StarPhoenix." She holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Ryerson University and an honors Bachelor of Science.