There are several types of sinusitis that a person can experience, ranging from acute, subacute, to chronic sinusitis. Each type of sinusitis has different causes and complaints.
Sinusitis is inflammation and swelling of the walls of the sinuses or small air sacs located behind the forehead, nose, cheekbones, and behind the eyes. Types of sinusitis are grouped based on the severity of symptoms and duration of complaints.
Different Types of Sinusitis
The following are different types of sinusitis that you need to know:
Acute sinusitis
Acute sinusitis is one of the most common types of sinusitis. Acute sinusitis can cause the sinus cavities to become inflamed and swollen, so that mucus discharge from the sinuses is blocked and causes a buildup of mucus.
Most acute sinusitis is caused by the common cold or allergic rhinitis and usually clears up in about 7–10 days. This type of sinusitis can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- Thick, yellow, or green mucus that comes out of the nose or feels like running down the back of the throat
- Nasal congestion that causes sufferers to have difficulty breathing through the nose
- Pain, swelling, and pressure around the eyes, cheeks, nose, or forehead that gets worse over time
These symptoms can also be accompanied by headache, sore throat, toothache, cough, bad breath, fatigue, and fever.
Subacute sinusitis
Although the symptoms are the same as acute sinusitis, subacute sinusitis generally occurs due to a bacterial infection or seasonal allergies, such as pollen allergies or animal dander allergies. In addition, subacute sinusitis can last longer, which is about 4-12 weeks.
Chronic sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis occurs when inflammation and swelling in the sinuses lasts more than 3 months. Symptoms that occur in this type of sinusitis are also almost the same as acute sinusitis, but last longer.
In addition, there are some typical symptoms of chronic sinusitis, namely:
- Thick, pale mucus that comes out of the nose or feels like running down the back of the throat
- Frequent coughing due to the flow of mucus from the nose in the throat
- Reduced ability to smell
- Ear pain
Chronic sinusitis can be caused by a bacterial infection. However, this type of sinusitis usually occurs in conjunction with persistent allergies or problems with the structure of the nose, such as deviated septum and nasal polyps.
All types of sinusitis that have been mentioned above can generally be overcome. In fact, most sufferers can recover on their own without having to see a doctor. However, in some cases, sinusitis that is not treated properly can lead to serious complications, such as meningitis, brain abscess, or bone infection.
So, if you experience symptoms of the types of sinusitis mentioned above and your condition does not improve for about 10 days, immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
