OCEANN ENT
SINUSITIS
Orange County Ear, Allergy, Nose & Neck (OCEANN) ENT
Whether allergies or an infection cause sinusitis, you suffer from symptoms like nasal congestion and pressure around your nose and eyes. Our providers at OCEANN have extensive experience determining the precise cause of your problem and creating customized treatment that targets your unique needs. If you have questions about your symptoms or need to schedule an appointment to get relief, call the office in Huntington Beach, California, or request an appointment online.
ABOUT SINUSITIS
Sinusitis refers to inflammation of one or more or the eight paranasal sinuses located along and above your nose.
When the sinus lining becomes inflamed and swollen, the opening from the sinus into your nasal cavity gets blocked. As a result, mucus produced in the sinus can’t drain, so it builds up inside the sinus and causes an infection.
Sinusitis usually appears together with rhinitis, which is in an infection in the membranes lining your nasal passages. The two are so closely related that sinusitis is referred to as rhinosinusitis.
OCEANN ENT
WHAT CAUSES SINUSITIS?
There are two primary causes:
NON-ALLERGIC SINUSITIS
Better known as the common cold, non-allergic sinusitis is usually caused by a viral infection but may arise from bacteria or irritants. Although most cases don’t last long, the infection can become chronic, lasting 12 weeks or longer.
ALLERGIC SINUSITIS
More commonly known as hay fever, allergic sinusitis is caused by an immune response to airborne allergens. Tree pollen is usually the cause of allergies in the spring, grass pollen leads to rhinitis in the summer, and ragweed is the top culprit in the fall. If you have year-round allergies, your reaction is usually due to molds, dust mites, or pet dander.
HOW IS SINUSITIS TREATED?
Our provider performs testing to diagnose your sinusitis precisely. This testing may include imaging studies like CT scans, endoscopy to view inside your nose and sinuses, or allergy testing. The provider customizes your treatment according to the severity of your symptoms, whether your condition is acute or chronic, and whether the infection is viral, bacterial, or allergic.
When chronic sinusitis resists treatment, and your symptoms persist, minimally invasive procedures or surgery provide long-lasting relief.
Our provider specializes in several procedures that effectively treat chronic sinusitis, including:
In-office balloon dilation
With this procedure, the doctor gently guides a particular instrument through your nose to the blocked sinus opening, briefly inflates a balloon, then deflates and removes it. The balloon opens the sinus, so it drains properly and allows you to breathe normally.
Inferior turbinate reduction
Turbinates are structures inside your nose that help warm and moisturize air. When a turbinate becomes enlarged or swollen (an enlarged inferior turbinate), it blocks sinus openings and nasal passages. Our providers treatsthis condition with one of several procedures that shrink the turbinates without removing the structures.