The bones of the face have open cavities called the sinuses. They are located in 4 different areas of the skull, are directly connected via a natural orifice to the nose, and always occur in pairs. There are many conditions that affect the sinuses and burning sinuses is one of them.
A burning sensation which affects the nasal cavities and which may occur with some amount of pain is referred to as burning sinuses. When patients experience burning sinuses, then it often means that the underlying infection has become more serious. Patients may suffer from the typical burning sensation in nasal passages as well as swelling, yellowish discharge from nose, pain in sinus, and fever.
In most cases, burning sinuses commences with a mild illness, but it can soon aggravate and cause a lot of pain. The burning sensation and pain can be alleviated with home remedies and medicines. Burning sinuses can however be a recurrent issue and affected people may suffer a relapse after 2 or 3 weeks. It is therefore important to know the potential causative risks and necessary preventive measures to avoid the recurrence.
Symptoms
Burning sinuses signify that the underlying illness has reached an advanced stage and is known to be accompanied by pain and burning sensations in the nasal passages.
In the early stages when the condition is mild, affected people experience the below listed signs and symptoms:
- Pain in the upper jaw region and the teeth
- Coughing; it deteriorates when the patient lies down
- Bad breath or halitosis
- Fever along with headache, weakness, and fatigue
- Ache and swelling in the nose as well as the adjacent areas
- Increased pressure in the nasal cavity and around the eyes
- Discharge from nose; it may be greenish or dark yellowish
- Pain in ear
- The nasal passage may experience redness
- Sore throat
- Decreased sense of smell and taste
Spread of the infection to the nearby areas will lead to more visible symptoms. Severe infection of the sinus marked by burning sinuses may occur along with:
- Disorientation
- Breathing issues
- Stiff neck
- Headache that is intense and intolerable
- Double vision and other kinds of disturbances of sight
Sometimes, burning sinuses sensation may be so intense that patients may become confused and completely disoriented. It is important to seek immediate medical treatment in such cases.
Causes of burning sinuses
The sinuses in the nasal tract work towards humidifying and warming the inhaled air before passing it on to the lungs. The sinuses typically have air and mucus. However, during inhalation germs enter the tract, get stuck in the sinuses and/or pass on into the respiratory system. The warm surroundings of the sinuses are then ideal for multiplication of the germs which eventually triggers an infection.
Burning sinuses causes infections of the sinus are usually caused by common cold. But there are a number of other factors, including infections by pathogens virus, bacteria, etc., as well as allergic reactions that can increase the risk to sinus infections. A few such causative factors are listed below:
- Allergic rhinitis or hay fever
- Deviated or crooked septum of the nose
- Nasal tumors
- Immune system disorders
- Cystic fibrosis and other similar diseases
The above conditions trigger increased mucus production in the nasal tract, thereby causing the nose passages to get blocked. When the sinuses are also completed blocked by mucus, then patients may suffer from burning sinuses and pain.
Allergic reactions may occur due to seasonal changes or due to contact with tobacco smoke, pollution, or inhalation of chemicals. A stroke may also be accompanied by burning sinuses
Treatment of burning sinuses
Burning sinuses, the underlying infection, as well as associated pain and other symptoms can be alleviated and treated with medications.
- Doctors may prescribe drugs like decongestants, nasal sprays and corticosteroids, and OTC pain killers to treat burning sinuses and ease the discomfort and pain.
Medications used for treating burning sinuses may cause a few side effects. Hence, patients may opt for home remedies to treat minor instances of sinus infections. A few such home remedies are discussed below:
- Hardened and dry mucus can be loosened from the nasal passages by steaming. Inhalation of warm steam can help clear the blocked sinuses of excess mucus and facilitate its easy removal from the body. Patients may add a few drops of eucalyptus oil in the steaming hot water to improve the effectiveness of steaming and quicken the pace of recovery from burning sinuses.
- Burning sensation and pain can be alleviated by using a hot compress or heating pad on the face. This heat therapy can also help decrease any swelling or inflammation in the region.
- Excess mucus or phlegm can also be removed by drinking warm water or other warm fluids.
