Sinusitis (Sinus Inflammation/Infection) – What You Should Know

Sinusitis is when the tissue lining your sinuses — the air-filled cavities around your forehead, cheeks and nose — become inflamed and blocked. This blocks normal mucus drainage, leads to fluid build-up, and creates an environment where germs or allergens can cause or worsen an infection.

Typical symptoms include nasal congestion or stuffiness, thick discoloured mucus (runny nose or postnasal drip), facial pressure/pain (especially when bending forward), headache, reduced sense of smell, cough, bad breath or ear/fullness sensation.

Sinusitis may be acute (lasting up to ~4 weeks), sub-acute (4-12 weeks) or chronic (longer than 12 weeks) depending on how long the symptoms persist.

Causes & risk factors include: viral infections (like the common cold), bacterial infections when drainage is blocked, allergies that trigger inflammation, nasal anatomical issues like a deviated septum or nasal polyps, and exposure to smoke or pollutants.

Initial treatments focus on relieving symptoms, improving drainage (like saline rinses, decongestants, humidifiers), controlling inflammation, and treating infection when needed. For persistent or chronic cases, a specialist in ear, nose & throat (ENT) can help with more targeted care.

If you’ve been experiencing persistent sinus symptoms for many weeks, or recurrent episodes of sinusitis, it’s a good idea to speak to an ENT specialist for evaluation and personalised management.