Let's Talk About Recurrent Sinusitis

Roughly 30 million Americans suffer from sinusitis, painful sinus infections responsible for about 3 million doctor visits every year, according to the CDC. Though acute infections clear up in a few weeks, people with recurrent sinusitis wind up with multiple infections in a single year.

At Allergy Associates of Utah, our team takes sinus infections seriously, using an individualized, patient-centered approach to treat both acute and recurrent infections. Here, learn why recurrent infections happen and what treatments could help you finally find relief.

Sinus infection basics

Sinuses are cavities located behind and around your nose, eyes, forehead, and cheeks. You have eight sinuses in total, and their main job is to produce and distribute mucus to moisten your airways and trap germs.

Normally, your sinuses are filled with air. However, because they’re exposed to the environment every time you breathe, sometimes, the tissues lining the sinuses become inflamed and swollen, trapping germ-filled mucus and increasing the risk of an infection.

People with sinusitis have an array of uncomfortable symptoms, including facial pain, headaches, runny nose, postnasal drip, and stuffy nose. Some infections are associated with fever and fatigue, and they may occur at the end of a respiratory infection, like a cold or flu.

Although anyone can develop a sinus infections, they tend to be more common among people with risk factors, like:

• Allergies
• Nasal polyps
• Asthma
• Structural issues, like a deviated septum
• Weakened immune system

Chronic exposure to airborne irritants, like smoke or chemicals, elevates the risk of sinusitis, too.

Why recurrent infections happen

Recurrent sinusitis is defined as having four or more sinus infections in a single year with symptom-free periods between each infection. Not surprisingly, repeated infections can be an exhausting experience, taking a toll on your health, your patience, and your immune system, too, making you even more prone to future infections.

So why do they happen? There are several possible reasons. Sometimes, a prior infection isn’t cleared up completely, leaving behind a small population of germs that grows over time. Failing to take all your medication or having germs that are resistant to specific medications can result in poor healing and a recurrent infection.

Other times, it’s because you have one or more risk factors for sinus infections. For example, if you have chronic allergies or asthma, your sinuses may remain chronically inflamed, making future infections more likely.

Large nasal polyps or a deviated septum may prevent mucus drainage, meaning it’s harder to clear out infectious germs. Once again, germs remaining after an acute infection can lead to another infection in the future.

Treatment and prevention

With both acute and recurrent sinusitis, the key to a cure is to target the underlying cause. For stubborn or resistant infections, our team may perform a nasal swab, using lab testing to determine what type of germ is in play. With that information, we can prescribe medication specifically targeted to the germ for better results.

Prescription nasal sprays and nasal washes may help, too, by relieving inflammation and swelling, improving drainage, and helping the sinus tissues heal and recover. Sprays and washes may be especially effective for people with chronic allergies or asthma.

If you have a structural issue, like polyps or a deviated septum, we may recommend minimally invasive sinus procedures, like balloon sinuplasty to widen sinus passages. Other surgeries help correct problems with nasal anatomy, like a deviated septum.

Find a solution for your sinusitis

Before recommending any treatment for recurrent sinusitis, our team performs a comprehensive evaluation to ensure your treatment is tailored for success. 

To learn how we can help you improve your sinus health, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Allergy Associates of Utah in Sandy and West Jordan, Utah, today.