Williamsburg Sun

Some sinus infections are so stubborn, it takes more than antibiotics to cure them, according to Dr.  John Ditto of Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.

"What we found is that once you develop chronic sinusitis, it can become an inflammatory disorder," Ditto told the Williamsburg Sun. "And you can't treat that with antibiotics because antibiotics are only (used) to kill microorganisms. So to treat chronic sinusitis, you have to think of it like rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis or lupus. And that's why we have you on steroids. And  that's why you improve."

Allergies are also the cause of some sinus problems, Ditto explained.

Dr. John Ditto | zocdoc.com

"The sinuses are lined by the nasal and sinus epithelium, or lining, and that lining is reactive to allergens," he said. "Those allergens cause histamine release and other inflammatory mediators that cause swelling, and they obstruct the tiny sinus openings in which our sinuses normally drain. So by treating the allergy, you decrease the inflammation and you can maintain sinus openings so that they drain effectively and reduce recurrent and chronic sinusitis."

Sinusitis blocks air passageways, causing mucus to increase and possibly leading to infections, according to the American Sinus Institute. A common cold or a deviated septum can contribute to the nasal inflammation as well. An estimated 37 million people in the U.S. have at least one case of nasal inflammation each year.

The four types of nasal inflammation are: acute, sub-acute, chronic and recurrent. Acute inflammation begins very suddenly and includes pain that does not go away after 10 to 14 days. Acute inflammation typically lasts four week or less. Sub-acute inflammation last between four and eight weeks. Chronic inflammation lasts for eight weeks or longer, and recurrent inflammation is a series of repeated attacks over the course of a year, according to the American Sinus Institute.

Potential patients can take a free online sinus quiz to evaluate their symptoms and see if they might benefit from a visit to the doctor.