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Courtesy of Latorre Sinus Center
Chronic sinusitis affects more than 35 million Americans each year. Closely associated with allergy, approximately 60% of allergy patients develop chronic sinusitis.
It’s one of the most common reasons that individuals visit their doctor.
Sinusitis, by definition, is inflammation of the sinus lining.
In Acute Sinusitis, you have an infection. Symptoms include fever, yellow-green-brown nasal discharge, facial pain and pressure, post nasal drip, cough, nasal congestion and fatigue.
The acute infection is treated with antibiotics, probiotics, Mucinex®, steroid nasal sprays and nasal saline washes.
The symptoms of Chronic Sinusitis can be deceiving, as they appear very gradually. The symptoms are similar to the acute infection but the nasal discharge is clear and there is typically
no fever.
Chronic sinusitis can be associated with allergy sufferers. The condition is described as chronic, if the symptoms last longer than eight weeks or if the condition is recurring for months or years. The risk of developing sinusitis is much higher in those individuals who suffer from allergic diseases. Getting your allergies under control early with the proper testing and treatment (allergy shots) is helpful in combating the progression of sinusitis.
In addition, repeated acute sinus infections will lead to progressive inflammation of the sinus and nasal lining. This swelling can close off the natural drainage openings, ostia, of the sinus. The sinus cannot “breathe” so-to-speak and drain normally. This creates a negative pressure situation which the patient perceives as facial pain and pressure. This cycle will continue unless you seek medical attention.
Chronic Sinusitis Sufferers Usually Complain of One or More of the Following Symptoms:
• Excessive drainage of clear discharge from the nose or down the throat
• Coughing is also a common symptom, which may be worse at night
• Stuffiness or congestion of the nose, causing difficulty breathing through the nose
• Pain and tenderness around the eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead
• Aching in the jaw and teeth
• Altered sense of smell and taste
• Ear pain, sore throat, bad breath, fatigue or irritability
Beside allergies, other leading contributors of chronic sinus disorders are nasal polyps, deviated septum (crooked nasal bone) and environmental pollutants. Given the commonality of chronic sinusitis, the treat-
ment options have been documented in a myriad of medical journals.
The conventional treatments for chronic sinusitis consist of steroidal nasal sprays, steroids by mouth, over-the-counter antihistamines/decongestants and saline irrigation. But when these standard-of-care approaches fail, that’s when the In Office balloon sinus dilation procedure is recommended.
With the patient given by mouth sedation, topical and local anesthetic are delivered into the nose and sinus area. A tiny balloon catheter is introduced into the natural opening of the sinus which is usually 1-2 mm (1/64th in), inflated to 6 mm (1/4th in), deflated and removed. Nothing is left in the sinus or nose.
If you or someone you know is in need of sinus relief, please call Dr Latorre’s office today.
Tampa Office
12500 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. Suite F
Tampa, Fl 33618
813-908-8585
Trinity Office
8146 Cerebellum Way, # 101
Trinity, FL 34655
727-375-8580
Land O’Lakes Office
2100 Via Bella Blvd, Suite 105
Land O’Lakes, FL 34639
813-908-8585
Randall C. Latorre, MD
Board Certified Otolaryngologist
Medical Education
• University of Missouri-Columbia for Medical School.
• Yale University- Ear, Nose and Throat Residency
• University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) – Facial plastic surgery fellowship
• University of Indiana-Indianapolis-Facial plastic surgery fellowship
Latorre Sinus Center: Dr. Latorre, Board Certified Otolaryngologist, specializes in sinus diseases. He has practiced for 20 years in the bay area. Dr. Latorre provides patients with unparalleled quality of care for nasal and sinus disorders.