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Sinusitis is usually categorized as either acute or chronic, based
on symptom duration and underlying cause. Ear, nose, and throat (ENT)
experts refer to the condition as rhinosinusitis, because the proximity
of nasal tissues and sinuses can cause symptoms in both areas.1 The
inflammation caused by allergies can lead to nasal obstruction and
subsequent sinusitis.2 According
to both the AAAAI and the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head
and Neck Surgery, sinusitis and rhinitis commonly co-exist.1,2
Both acute and chronic sinusitis can present with a number
of symptoms. The most common are2,3:
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Nasal congestion
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Increased secretions (with thick, yellow-green mucus)
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Rhinorrhea
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Headache and/or facial pain in the cheeks and forehead
Other symptoms of sinusitis may include fever, fatigue, and cough.
Sinusitis Facts and Figures
Sinusitis is considered to be one of the most common illnesses in
the United States. National health statistics show that:
- Between 29 million and 31 million adults are diagnosed with sinusitis
each year4,5
- Chronic sinusitis affects nearly 35 million people in the United
States, or 14% of the population4,5
Some experts now believe that sinusitis may be overdiagnosed because
its symptoms overlap with those of other diseases. A recent study
from the Mayo Clinic estimated that statistics for chronic sinusitis
were inflated due to misdiagnosis and the inherent inaccuracies of
patient self-reporting (a common tool for disease surveys).6
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