Sinusitis (Sinus Infection) Complications
Although severe complications are rare, a sinus infection may lead to a direct extension of infection into the brain via a sinus wall. This could be a life-threatening situation (for example, a brain or meningitis infection abscess). Other structures around the eye may also become infected (orbital cellularulitis). In rare cases, these infections (mainly caused by bacterial and fungal organisms) can even cause death. Patients with diabetes and reduced immunity are more susceptible to side effects. Allergic rhinitis can be a side effect of chronic or acute sinusitis.
You must avoid environmental triggers if you have environmental allergies. To know what to avoid, you must first have the allergies. To keep your airways from becoming clogged and inflamed, you can also do exercises to maintain better control of your allergies. Many sinus infections do not have serious complications, but mild bacterial sinusitis can cause life-threatening complications. Sinus infections have thin walls and share lymphatic and blood vessel drainage pathways with parts of the central nerve system and the eyes. One of the most common symptoms of sinus infection is facial pressure or pain.
Complications of sinusitis include:
- Brain abscess
- Meningitis
- Bone infection
- Blood clots in the sinus cavity (thrombosis).
- Infection of the eye and surrounding tissues
The symptoms of rare complications include:
- Variations in Vision
- Eye swelling or redness
- Drooping eyelids
- Fever onset
- Light Sensitivity
- You may experience pain when moving your eye
- Confusión
- Swelling of the forehead
- Seizure
- Headache
- Nose rigidity: Inability to move the neck forward
If you have any symptoms that suggest a possible complication, seek medical care immediately. Most sinus infections are caused by viruses and resolve on their own within 7-10 days. If the symptoms persist for more than 10 consecutive days, they become worse and individuals should consult their doctor. Sinus infection can often disappear on its own. If you ignore a sinus infection that keeps on lingering or rearing its ugly face, it can lead to serious complications. You may develop an incurable sinus infection if you experience the following complications:
- The loss of smell in its entirety or in part
Anosmia is a condition whereby chronic sinus infections completely or partially remove your sense of smell. It could be due to inflammation and blockage in the nasal pathways, or damage to the olfactory nervous. It is possible that the loss of smell caused by a sinusitis will be temporary, but in more severe cases it can last for a long time and affect your overall health.
- Breathing difficulty
You may have difficulty breathing through your nose if you suffer from sinus infection. The breathing will become easier if the inflammation is curable and the blocked sinuses drain.
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