Sinusitis (Sinus Infection) Complications
While severe complications do not happen frequently, perhaps a sinus infection might lead to direct infection extension into the brain by a sinus wall, making a life-threatening emergency (for instance, brain or meningitis abscess). Additionally, other adjacent structures might get infected surrounding the eye (orbital cellulitis). Rarely, such infections (mainly fungal and bacterial organisms) might even lead to death. The most susceptible people to side effects are patients who are with diabetes, reduced immune system, and comparatively from multiple trauma injuries that might happen in natural disasters. Allergic rhinitis is a complication of both chronic and acute sinusitis. (5)
If you are experiencing environmental allergies, you must try to avoid these environmental triggers. You must have these allergies to completely diagnose and examine so you know what you need to avoid. You might also perform to sustain better control over your allergies so the airways do not get congested and inflamed. Therefore, many cases of sinus infections are not very complicated, particularly life-threatening complications of mild bacterial sinusitis might occur. The walls of sinus infection are thin and the sinuses share lymph and blood vessels drainage pathways with the parts of the central nervous system and eyes. Facial pressure or pain is one of the three most occurring symptoms of sinus infections.
The complications of sinus infection consist of:
- Brain abscess
- Meningitis
- Bone infection
- Sinus cavity blood clotting (thrombosis)
- Infection in the eye and around its tissues
While the symptoms of such rare complications consist of:
- Variations in vision
- Swelling or redness in the eye socket or eye
- Drooping eyelids
- Onset of fever
- Sensitivity to light
- Pain while moving your eye
- Confusion
- Swelling on the forehead
- Seizure
- Severe headache
- Not able to move neck forward (nuchal rigidity)
Anyone that is having any symptoms that recommend a potential complication of sinus infection must seek medical attention immediately. The huge majority of sinus infection cases are occurring by a virus and end up on its own in 7 to 10 days. When the symptoms exceed more than 10 days it gets worse in severity, individuals must visit their doctor or healthcare providers. In many cases, sinus infection vanishes on its own. Therefore, if it keeps or lingers rearing its ugly head and you might overlook it, a sinus infection might lead to severe complications. Here are some significant complications in the following that might give rise to incurable sinus infection:
- Loss of the sense of smell completely or partially
Incurable sinus infections can completely deprive or remove the sense of smell (known as anosmia). This might be because of blockage and inflammation in your nasal pathways or harm to the olfactory nerve. The loss of smell by a sinus infection is sometimes transient; it might be long-term in severe cases, wreaking havoc on your life quality and overall wellbeing.
- Difficulty while breathing
Sinus infection might lead to sinus and nasal congestion that might form it tough for you to breathe by your nose. If the inflammation gets curable and block sinuses begin to drain, the breathing will get easier.