Dear Doctors: Can you please talk about sinusitis? I've been having headaches and postnasal drip for a few months, and I thought it was because of my allergies. But my brother, who is a nurse, thinks it could be sinusitis. What are the symptoms, and how is it treated?
Dear Reader: Sinusitis occurs when inflammation or infection cause swelling in the tissues that line the paranasal sinuses. Often referred to simply as sinuses, these are two pairs of air-filled cavities that are connected by narrow passageways.
The paranasal sinuses are located behind the lower part of the forehead, just behind and on either side of the bridge of the nose, and within the bony structures of the cheeks. They are lined with tiny, hairlike structures that are bathed in a thin layer of mucus. In a heathy sinus, these hairs and mucus work together to capture and clear away the dust, dirt and other debris that enters the nose.
