Disorders of paranasal sinuses

Question 1

What is meant by acute sinusitis?

Answer 1

Acute inflammation of the mucosa of the paranasal sinuses

Question 2

What are the causes of acute sinusitis?

Answer 2

Infection of nasal cavity causing infection of paranasal sinuses

Question 3

How does infection of the nasal cavity cause acute sinusitis?

Answer 3

Oedema of nasal mucosa and ostia

blocks drainage from paranasal sinuses
secretions in paranasal sinuses build up
increase risk of infection

Question 4

Which paranasal sinus is most commonly affected by acute sinusitis? Why?

Answer 4

Maxillary sinus

because the direction of drainage from the maxillary sinus into the meatuses of the nasal cavity is upwards
further reduces drainage
more build up of secretions
higher risk of infection

Question 5

What are the signs and symptoms of acute sinusitis? What causes most of them?

Answer 5

Cold or flu-like illness

Pyrexia

Nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, green/yellow discharge

Headache, facial pain in area of affected sinus, worse when leaning forward

most caused by the infection

Question 6

What are the complications of acute sinusitis?

Answer 6

Contents of ethmoid sinus may break through medial wall of orbit
infection spreads to peri-orbital tissue, orbit
affects optic nerve, cranial cavity