Just A Cold Or Sinusitis?

The ongoing climatic changes have led to a rise in health issues in the country. But if it is a persistent cold that you are suffering from, you may need to worry…

- Dr Gaurav Chaturvedy

According to a recent study, it is estimated that 134 million (one in eight) Indians suffer from chronic sinusitis. The urban population is more prone to sinusitis mainly because of higher occupation and industrial air pollution in cities as compared to rural areas.

WHAT IS SINUSITIS?

Sinusitis is inflammation of the lining of the paranasal sinuses, also referred as rhinosinusitis (RS).

It is defined as acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) if it lasts less than four weeks, and as chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) if it lasts for more than 12 weeks.

CAUSES:

RS develops through the combination of environmental (air pollution) factors, structural problems in the nose and host immune function.