What happens if chronic sinusitis goes untreated?

If chronic sinusitis goes untreated for a length of time, it is possible the infection can spread to vital parts of your body, including to the bones, spinal fluid, and the brain. These complications, meningitis and brain abscesses, are life-threatening and require immediate emergency surgery.

How serious is chronic sinusitis?

Long-term chronic sinusitis can also cause other serious complications, including: permanent loss of your ability to smell because of damage to your olfactory nerve, which helps you smell. loss of vision if an infection spreads to your eyes. inflammation of your brain and spinal cord membranes (known as meningitis)

What happens if you have a sinus infection for too long?

It can lead to a brain abscess or meningitis, both of which can be life-threatening. An infection that lingers, gets worse or gets better only to quickly return needs to be treated by a doctor. An antibiotic may be all that's needed, but in some cases, other treatment may be required.

How do you know if a sinus infection has spread to your brain?

Encephalitis: This results when the infection spreads to your brain tissue. Encephalitis may not have obvious symptoms beyond a headache, fever, or weakness. But more severe cases can lead to confusion, hallucinations, seizures, difficulty speaking, paralysis, or loss consciousness.

What will happen if sinusitis is not treated?

What Happens if Sinusitis Isn't Treated? You'll have pain and discomfort until it starts to clear up. In rare cases, untreated sinusitis can lead to meningitis, a brain abscess, or an infection of the bone. Talk to your doctor about your concerns.

What happens if you let a sinus infection go untreated? - Dr. Gaurav Medikeri S

Can you live with chronic sinusitis?

The vast majority of patients can be treated on an outpatient basis and are nearly or completely symptom-free within weeks. “Many patients feel better than they have for decades — if not their entire lives — after sinus surgery,” Dr.

How long can chronic sinusitis last?

The signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis last at least 12 weeks, but you may have several episodes of acute sinusitis before developing chronic sinusitis. Fever isn't a common sign of chronic sinusitis, but you might have one with acute sinusitis.

Can sinusitis lead to sepsis?

You may be asking yourself, “Can a sinus infection be deadly?” In very rare cases, untreated infections — sinusitis, urinary tract infections, even bug bites — can lead to a condition called sepsis, also known as blood poisoning.

Can sinus cause death?

Can sinusitis cause death? Chronic sinusitis can spread to the eyes, blood, and brain, and, in rare circumstances, cause death. For that reason, it's important to take instances of sinusitis that won't go away very seriously.

Can sinusitis cause heart problems?

People with sick sinus syndrome have a higher chance of getting other heart-related conditions. These include atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat), heart failure, and cardiac arrest. Some people with sick sinus syndrome may have a greater risk of having a stroke.

What are the symptoms of severe sinusitis?

What are the 4 main symptoms of sinusitis?

How do you permanently cure chronic sinusitis?

Can sinusitis cause neurological problems?

The millions of people who have chronic sinusitis deal not only with stuffy noses and headaches, they also commonly struggle to focus, and experience depression and other symptoms that implicate the brain's involvement in their illness.

Can sinus infection spread to lungs?

In certain patients, however, the infection can result in lower respiratory symptoms such as cough and chest congestion, eventually turning into bronchitis, sometimes even pneumonia. This typically occurs from infected post nasal drainage entering the lungs.

What is the most effective treatment for chronic sinusitis?

Treatments for chronic sinusitis include: Nasal corticosteroids. These nasal sprays help prevent and treat inflammation. Examples include fluticasone, triamcinolone, budesonide, mometasone and beclomethasone.

Can an MRI show a sinus infection?

Note: MRI is not as effective as CT in defining the anatomy of the sinuses, and therefore is not typically used for suspected acute sinusitis.

Can mold grow in your sinuses?

The fungal ball can get bigger and block the sinuses. Providers use surgery to remove fungal balls and clean out the sinuses. Saprophytic fungal sinusitis: This type of infection doesn't actually affect the nose tissue. Instead, fungus grows on crusts of mucus inside the nose.

Can sinusitis cause memory loss?

Memory Loss or dementia are not often associated with sinus infections. However, when proper testing is completed, a correlation might be found and a unique treatment plan that addresses sinus disease may be the only way to improve memory loss.

What are the early warning signs of sepsis?

Can a sinus infection get into your bloodstream?

Even a sinus infection can cause bacteria to enter your bloodstream. Your immune system will eliminate small amounts of bacteria. When this doesn't happen, it can cause blood poisoning. Too many bacteria can enter your bloodstream at once.

Why does chronic sinusitis cause fatigue?

If you're combating a sinus infection following a cold or flu, rest can help you recuperate. But rest is unlikely to relieve fatigue associated with chronic sinusitis. If you have chronic sinusitis, your immune system is working overtime, which can cause you to feel tired.

When does sinusitis become serious?

When there is excessive pain in your eyes, ears, head or throat, you likely have a severe sinus infection. And if you can't open your eyes or you feel dizzy, these are major warning signs that your sinusitis is at a dangerous level.

Can chronic sinusitis make you feel sick?

Sinus infections often cause post-nasal drip — commonly referred to as drainage — which can lead to nausea and vomiting.

What does chronic sinusitis look like on a CT scan?

CT. A characteristic feature on CT sinuses is sclerotic thickened bone (hyperostosis) involving the sinus wall from a prolonged mucoperiosteal reaction. Intrasinus calcification may be present. The presence of opacification is not a good discriminator from an acute sinus infection.