Sinusitis is an inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses, the hollow space between your eyes. It can cause considerable discomfort, particularly painful headaches. It may be caused either by infectious agents, allergies or growth of polyps (tear shaped growths) in the nose. In this article we debunk some of the myths surrounding sinusitis.

Myth 1: Sinusitis Contagious

Fact: Sinusitis is surely not contagious. If a person has an infection leading to sinusitis, they might spread the infectious agent (virus, bacteria or fungi), however the sinusitis in itself is not contagious. You surely can’t catch sinusitis from a person who experiences it because of an allergy or nasal polyps.

Myth 2: Antibiotics Can Cure Sinusitis

Fact: Sinusitis caused by bacterial infections alone can be cured by antibiotics. However, this constitutes a very small percentage of cases. Virus-induced sinusitis cannot be cured by antibiotics. Similarly, antibiotics have no effect on sinusitis triggered by allergies or nasal polyps. Hence, we can effectively say that while antibiotics can cure bacterial infections, it most certainly cannot cure sinusitis.

Myth 3: Surgery is the Only Treatment for Chronic Sinusitis

Fact: Doctors generally consider multiple treatment options before suggesting surgery to the patient. Chronic SInusitis (problems that last over 2 months at a point of time) may be managed or even treated with a combination of topical nasal medications, lifestyle modifications and treatments that solve the root cause of the issue. For instance, allergy shots may help in patients who experience sinus issues as a result of an annergy

Contact your ENT specialist and enable them to determine a suitable treatment plan for you. Identifying the cause and treating it is what makes the difference.