Sinusitis is one of the most commonhealth problems in the world. In United States alone, it is estimatedthat 39 million people are suffering from its symptoms.

Sinus infection, or sinusitis,generally means that your sinuses are infected or inflamed. Some of thesymptoms may include any of the following:

• Runny nose with green/yellow discharge
• Nasal congestion due to excessive mucus
• Facial pain, especially in the eyes, forehead or cheeks
• Coughing
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Reduced sense of smell
• Sore throat
• Fever and fatigue

If any of the symptoms mentionedlasts for only a few days, then you may have had a bout of acute sinusitis.With plenty of rest, healthy diet and use of decongestants, you will be able torecover on your own. Chronic sinus infection, on the other hand, means seriousbusiness. It is termed chronic because you experience the symptoms for a longtime or they keep coming back, bringing continuous discomfort.

Fortunately, we do not have toendure the pain and discomfort of having sinusitis all the time. Treatments arereadily available in the market which not only provide relief, but also combatsthe problem head on by eliminating the source of infection. Below are some ofthe treatments you can undergo:

1.      Oral decongestants can be taken to relieve stuffy nose. Painkillerssuch as paracetamol and ibuprofen can be taken to ease the pain. However, thesemedicines only provide temporary relief.

2.      Bacterial sinusitis, the most common chronic sinus infection,can be treated with antibiotics, which target the infectious bacteria andprevent them from reproducing. Antibiotic treatment usually takes 3 ? 4 weeks.

3.      Antifungal medicines should be taken if the infection iscaused by a fungus.

4.      Steroid nasal spray or drops is advised if it is suspectedthat the infection is due to allergies. Steroids are very effective in reducinginflammation.

5.      Seek dental treatment if the cause of infection is believedto be dental in nature.

6.      Saline irrigation is also widely used not only fortreatment, but also for prevention. Saltwater solution is used to rinse thenasal passages to clear out excess mucus and other irritants. It is very safeand effective that it should be part of our everyday routine to help take careof our sinuses.

7.      Steam treatments can be started to get rid of phlegm. Addingeucalyptus oil to you steam treatment is advisable as it acts as naturalexpectorant and decongestant.

8.      If all else fails, surgical treatment may be undertaken toimprove the drainage of the sinus. The most common operation is functionalendoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), wherein the tissues that block the drainageare removed to restore the normal function of the sinus. The operation is verysimple with high success rate.

Be careful with the medicines thatyou take or treatments that you undergo. Make sure that there are nocontradicting effects. If you are not sure of what treatment to use, schedule acheckup with your physician and know the chronic sinus infection cure that isright for you.

To read more about chronic sinusinfection, go to .

You can also read and consider atreatment program described in .