Sinus Ethmoid – Causes, Symptoms And Treatment Options Article

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Sinus Ethmoid – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options

The ethmoid sinuses are one of the two smaller pairs of sinuses in the human skull, the other one being the sphenoidal sinus. These are located in the area between the eye sockets, just right above the nose.

Author: Jillian Phillips

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It is the collective term used for the group of 6 to 12 very thin-walled and air-filled spaces the size of a matchbox that are enclosed inside the ethmoid bone. These spaces, otherwise referred to as cells or bubbles, are lined with a thin layer of mucous membrane that is connected to the nasal cavity.

Like all other mucus-lined structures in the nasal passages, the ethmoid sinus can become inflamed. This causes blockages in the nasal passages, thereby impeding the natural flow of thin mucus from one area of the nose to another. When this happens, mucus thickens and builds up in the ethmoid sinus, over time causing an infection called Ethmoiditis or Ethmoid Sinusitis.

Causes of Ethmoid Sinusitis or Infection of the Sinus Ethmoid
Aside from abnormal mucus build-up, there are other causes to ethmoid sinusitis. These are:

- Bacterial, fungal or viral infections,
- Lodging of foreign materials such as chemical and environmental pollutants within the ethmoid sinus,
- Formation of nasal polyps and/or tumors,
- Structural or anatomical defects such as enlarged turbinate and deviated septum,
- Trauma to the head, near the location of the ethmoid sinus,
- Deficient immune system response or weakened immune system (also called Immunocompromise),
- Side-effects of certain medications which affect the normal functioning of the mucous membrane lining the sinuses,
- Build-up of pressure beyond the threshold of the sinuses,
- Respiratory conditions like asthma, colds and flu,
- Dehydration,
- Hormonal imbalance, and
- Poor air quality.

Symptoms of Ethmoid Sinusitis
Symptoms of infected sinus ethmoid include the following:
- Headache that radiates from between the eye sockets,
- Pain that comes from the lower section of the forehead, above the bridge of the nose,
- Runny/Stuffy nose,
- Nasal discharge, which is characterized with thick, yellowish or greenish mucus,
- Postnasal drop or postnasal discharge,
- Difficulty breathing,
- Fever,
- Sore throat, and
- Sinus pressure or pain that roots from around the corners of the eyes.

Complication/s
When left untreated, the infection of sinus ethmoid may progress to the formation of abscesses in the area between the eyes.

Treatment Options
Ethmoid sinusitis is usually responsive to common medical therapies used in treating other types of sinusitis such as antibiotics therapy and use of decongestants. When used in Ethmoiditis, medical therapy aims to open the ostium, relieve the pain or pressure associated with the condition, relieve the symptoms of Ethmoiditis, remove infection, and restore the mucociliary function of the tiny hair-like structures that form the mucosal lining of the ethmoid sinuses.

When no significant relief is obtained using medical therapy, surgical intervention is usually warranted.

Other treatment options include simple alternative therapies such as the use of nasal irrigation tools, and steaming techniques. Due to the nature and location of the inflammation though, these techniques may prove less efficient when used in treating ethmoid sinusitis than with other types of sinusitis.

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For more information, please visit http://www.sinusdynamics.com/

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Sinus Ethmoid – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options