Sinus infection, or sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. A sinus infection can cause a headache or pressure in the eyes, nose, cheek area, or on one side of the head. A person with a sinus infection may also have a cough, a fever, bad breath, and nasal congestion with thick nasal secretions. Sinusitis is categorized as acute (sudden onset) or chronic (long term, the most common type).

Sinusitis or sinus infection is a lingering troublesome ailment which ultimately tells on the general health. The sinuses are cavities and inside these cavities are mucosal linings. The lining of the sinuses provides a very important and essential function in that they protect the body from dust, pollens, other foreign matter and pathogens in the air we breathe.The surface of this lining is made up of soft membrane-like tissues which is densely populated with microscopic hair-like cilia. The cilia act like oars to drain the mucus produced naturally by the body.

Sometimes, if a sinus infection is not getting better, comes back even after you take all your medicine, or if the doctor is thinking about doing surgery, he or she may send you to have a CT scan of the sinuses. The CT scan is a special X-ray that takes a picture of your insides. It doesn't hurt, and it makes it much easier for the doctor to see what's going on. Your doctor can clearly see what the sinuses look like and then decide what kind of treatment will help you get better faster.

You're coughing, your nose is stuffy, and you feel tired and achy. You think that you might be getting a cold. Later, when the medicines you've been taking to relieve symptoms of the common cold are not working and you've got a terrible headache, you finally drag yourself to the doctor. After listening to your history of symptoms, examining your face and forehead, and perhaps doing a sinus X-ray, the doctor says you have sinusitis.

The people with sinusitis frequently have thick nasal secretions that are yellow, green, or blood-tinged. Sometimes these secretions, referred to as post-nasal drip, drain in the back of the throat and are difficult to get rid of. Also, acute and chronic sinusitis are strongly associated with nasal symptoms such as a stuffy nose, as well as with a general feeling of fullness over the entire face.

The paranasal sinuses are air-filled cavities in the dense portions of the bones of the skull, which were formed to decrease the overall weight of the skull. These air filled cavities are formed essentially in four left and right pairs. The frontal sinuses are positioned behind the area of the forehead, while the maxillary sinuses are behind the cheeks. The sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses are found deeper in the skull behind the eyes and maxillary sinuses. The sinuses are lined by mucous secreting cells.

Sinus infection symptoms can also be caused by food allergies or a severe cold. The people usually more susceptible to sinus infection symptoms are those with a weaken immune system. So it's a good idea to do what you can to improve your health and your immune system to help prevent the symptoms of a sinus infection.

Sinus infections and allergies pose a unique situation. Just as sinusitis and related problems are so common, surprisingly, modern medicine has still not been able to provide definite solutions. To this date, sinus irrigation remains one of the most effective ways to treat sinus infections.