How your ENT specialists in Austin, TX, can help with a sinus infection
Sinus infections can make you miserable, especially if you have them frequently. They can cause pressure and pain in your head and your face. Sinus infections can also make it difficult to breathe through your nose, and cause problems sleeping. Fortunately, your ENT specialist is an expert at diagnosis and treatment of sinus infections and can help you feel better.
Dr. Melba Lewis and Dr. Kimberley Hewitt at Austin Association of Otolaryngologists in Austin, TX, provide a wide range of ENT services, including diagnosis and treatment of sinus infections.
Sinus infections can develop from:
- Exposure to a virus
- Exposure to bacteria
- Exposure to a fungus
- Exposure to an allergen
- A dental infection
- Nasal polyp growth
When you have a sinus infection, you may have only mild signs and symptoms which can be relieved using over-the-counter products. Unfortunately, sinus infections can also lead to more severe signs and symptoms, including:
- Severe throbbing pain in your sinuses
- Severe pain in your teeth, nose, upper jaws, or forehead
- Yellow-green mucus coming from your nose
- Severe nasal and sinus congestion
- Severe headaches and earaches
- Chronic coughing and sore throat
For moderate to severe sinus infections, your ENT specialist may recommend:
- Prescription strength antihistamines and decongestants
- Antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria causing the infection
- Corticosteroid medications to decrease swelling in your nasal passages
- Allergy testing if your infections are caused by allergies
- Allergy shots or sublingual therapy
For chronic, severe sinus infections, your ENT specialist may recommend a procedure called balloon sinuplasty, to permanently open up your sinuses so you can breathe easily again.
You can do a lot to help prevent sinus infections. Remember to:
- Irrigate your sinuses with a saline solution to clean out and hydrate your nasal passages and sinuses
- Wash your hands often and don’t touch your mouth, nose, eyes and face
- Place a humidifier in your bedroom to help keep the air moist
- Don’t smoke and avoid tobacco smoke and fumes
To learn more about the causes, signs, symptoms, and treatment of sinus infections, call Dr. Melba Lewis and Dr. Kimberley Hewitt at Austin Association of Otolaryngologists in Austin, TX. You can reach them in the office by calling (512) 328-4999, so call today.