Chronic sinusitis is swelling (inflammation) of the air-filled spaces (sinuses) behind the forehead, cheeks, and eyes, which continues for a long time or keeps coming back.

See also: Sinusitis

The sinuses are openings in the bones around the nose. Four pairs of sinuses connect to small openings in the nose area. Normally, air passes in and out of the sinuses, and mucus and fluid drain from the sinuses into the nose.

Sinusitis is usually due to allergies or infection. When sinusitis keeps coming back or continues for a long period of time, it is considered chronic.

Causes of chronic sinusitis include:

• Blockage in the nose from allergies, nasal polyps, nasal tumors, or a deviated nasal septum
• Dental infections such as tooth abscess
• Allergy to the aspergillus species of fungus

Chronic sinusitis is much less common than acute sinusitis. Acute sinusitis often occurs with upper respiratory infections. Chronic sinusitis may produce less severe symptoms than acute sinusitis, but it can damage the tissues of the sinuses.

Symptoms may last for 3 months or more.

• Chronic fatigue
• Cough
• Facial pain around the eyes or in the forehead or cheeks
• Headache (in the front of the head or around the eyes)
• Nasal congestion
• Nasal drainage (yellow, yellow-green, thick)
• Pain in the roof of the mouth or teeth

The health care provider will examine you and tap lightly on your face over your sinuses. This method is called percussion. It may reveal tenderness in the area.

Normal sinuses glow when light shines directly onto them. (See also: Transillumination). If sinusitis is present, the sinuses will not glow when your doctor shines a light onto them.

Other tests that may be done include:

• CT scan of the sinuses
• MRI of the sinuses
• Sinus x-rays

These imaging tests may show the sinuses to be filled with fluid or reveal thickening of sinus tissues.