Rhinitis and sinusitis are two different diseases, but there is a relationship between the two. The swelling of the nasal mucosa caused by rhinitis can block the sinus orifices and obstruct the ventilation and drainage of the sinuses, which can lead to sinusitis over time.
The actual nasal mucosa is inflamed by viruses, bacteria, allergens, various physical and chemical factors and certain systemic diseases. The main symptoms are: nasal congestion, excessive runny nose, decreased sense of smell, headache, dizziness and other local symptoms. Systemic manifestations include headache, loss of appetite, easy fatigue, memory loss and insomnia. Sinusitis is an inflammation of one or more sinuses, and sinusitis can be divided into two types: acute and chronic sinusitis. Acute sinusitis is mostly caused by upper respiratory tract infections and can be complicated by both bacterial and viral infections. Chronic sinusitis is more common than acute, often involving multiple sinuses at the same time, and the systemic symptoms of acute sinusitis are more pronounced. The systemic symptoms of acute sinusitis are more pronounced, such as chills and fever, peripheral discomfort, mental discomfort, and loss of appetite. The systemic symptoms of acute odontogenic maxillary sinusitis are more dramatic. In children, the fever is higher and systemic symptoms such as convulsions, vomiting and diarrhea may occur in severe cases. Local symptoms mainly include nasal obstruction, pus, local pain and headache, and decreased sense of smell. The symptoms of chronic sinusitis are mainly local symptoms, mainly including thick nasal discharge, nasal congestion, decreased sense of smell and headache. Due to the flow of pus into the pharynx and long-term breathing through the mouth is often accompanied by symptoms of chronic pharyngitis, such as sputum, foreign body sensation or dry and painful pharynx. If it affects the eustachian tube, there may also be symptoms such as tinnitus and deafness. A feeling of pressure in the eyes may also occur, which may cause visual impairment, but is rare. There is a feeling of heavy pressure in the head, or only a dull or dull pain. The diagnosis of rhinitis mainly relies on the patient’s medical history and physical examination, while the diagnosis of sinusitis, in addition to medical history and physical examination, CT examination of sinuses and examination of electronic nasopharyngoscope are necessary tests. The treatment of rhinitis is mainly medication, and the treatment of sinusitis is preferred to medication, and when medication is ineffective or has transformed into chronic sinusitis, most of them require surgery.
Although rhinitis and sinusitis are two different diseases, but the relationship between the two also predicts that once the symptoms of rhinitis or sinusitis appear, must be timely and effective treatment, in order to prevent the interaction between the two, aggravating the disease, increasing the difficulty of treatment.