The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-01-13
THE PEOPLES HEALTH
By Samuel @. Pavlo, MD.
SINUS TROUBLE; ACUTE
SINUSITIS

Sinus trouble is one of the most
| frequent complications of head cold.
One OF both maXillary or frontal
sinuses may be involved, or all the
sinuses may become diseased at the
same time. The infection, as stated in
the previous article, starts in the nose
and extends to the sinuses. Another
frequent cause of sinus trouble is alb
cessed teeth, especially certain upper
| bicuspids and molars whose roots eX-
tend into the maXiallary sinuses. An
infection in the tonsils may extend
into the sinuses and cause a similar
condition.
AS a result of the inflammation the
mucous membrane of the sinuses be-
comes thickened. The cavity of the
sinus fills with mucous at first and
finally with pus. This process causes
pressure on the nerves and localized
pain.
In the maxillary sinus inflammation
the main symptom is neuralgia and
more or less constant pain referred to
the cheek of the affected side. The
pain may also affect the upper dental
arch even though the teeth of the
| corresponding area be normal. A
mucopurulent discharge from only
one nostril should put a person on
guard of a possible sinus infection on
that side of the cheek.
In the case of a frontal sinus infec-
ton headache is the most prominent
symptom. There is more or less
severe pain between and above the
eyebrows, which presents the charac-
teristic of being increased by leaning
forward and by coughing and being
so aggravated on blowing the nose
that the patient is apt to avoid clean
ing his nose.
Pressure exerted by an examining
finger over the diseased sinus causes
considerable pain and is of great dag
nostic value. An X-Ray examination
of the sinuses will reveal a cloudy
space filled with opaque fluid instead
of clear cavity filled with air. The
same will be found when the patient
is examined in a dark room with a
small strong flashlight. The light is
inserted in the mouth under the cheek
sinus or over the eye, under either of
the eyebrows. This examination is
called transillumination Of the sinuses
and is being used extensively.
The general condition of a person
suffering from acute sinus infection
is that of a patient suffering from
any acute disease, symptoms depends
on severity of the infection. Fever,
rapid pulse, chills, sweating, general
weakness, loss of appetite and sleep,
hoo oboc GRO fYoC,1o,,+ e1y,o,y >+O,,oe Tf
the infection is severe and neglected
it may extend to the neighborhood
areas or through the blood to distant
tissues, such as joints (rheumatism)
heart (endocarditis), kidneys (neph-
ritis) etc.
The removal of the cause is the pri-
mary factor in carrying out routine
procedure of treatment. Carious
teeth should be removed if they are
the cause of the sinus condition, but
no teeth should be extracted unless
proven by X-Ray examination that
they are at the bottom of the trouble.
If any of the sinuses contain pus it
should be evacuated Immediately.
The general health of the patient
should be looked after. Proper rest
and nutrition are important factors
in the aid of recovery.
A simple inflammation of the sinus
es in an otherwise healthy person will
subside without any heroic measures
or operative interference. The sinus
infection will quiet down and dis
appear as soon as the head cold which
caused it has been cured.