What should you know about chronic sinusitis treatment?

A clinician considers symptoms such as blocked nose, facial pressure, postnasal drip, cough, headache and reduced smell. Allergic rhinitis may keep the nasal lining inflamed, while polyps or a narrow drainage pathway can contribute. Treatment is therefore tailored rather than based on one symptom. The review may include a nose examination, medicine history and discussion of how long symptoms have lasted. Persistent symptoms do not automatically mean that antibiotics are needed; the likely cause guides the plan.

Follow the prescribed schedule for any nasal spray and ask how to aim it away from the middle wall of the nose. Saline rinsing can help remove mucus when prepared with safe water and clean equipment. Avoid smoke and note whether dust, pollen or other triggers worsen symptoms. Do not start leftover antibiotics or extend a course without advice. If symptoms remain troublesome, return for review rather than changing several treatments at once; this makes it easier to see what helps and whether another diagnosis should be considered.

Seek urgent help for eye swelling, vision changes, confusion, a severe unusual headache, or a stiff neck with fever. Contact your clinician promptly if facial pain is severe, symptoms worsen quickly, one-sided blockage persists, or you develop significant bleeding. Ongoing loss of smell, thick drainage or coughing up phlegm should be included in follow-up discussions.

What is the likely cause of my sinus inflammation? How long should I try this treatment before review? Could allergy or a structural problem be contributing? What side effects should I watch for, and when would specialist assessment help?