Is there a link between Covid and rhinosinusitis?
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What is rhinosinusitis?
It is the combination of conditions, such as rhinitis and sinusitis, that occur simultaneously in a patient. Sinusitis is defined as the inflammation of the sinuses due to sinus obstruction and the infection that this causes.
Rhinitis, in contrast, is defined as inflammation of the lining of the nose due to various causes, which in turn can cause sinus blockage.
To better understand these concepts, it is necessary to know the nose. The lining of the nostrils and the sinuses are two different parts. The latter are located around the face and should be filled with air.
When, for some reason, these ducts become blocked, filled with fluid or mucus, they can cause an infection diagnosed as sinusitis.
On the other hand, there are the mucous tissues that line and protect the nose, which when in contact with viruses, bacteria or allergens cause inflammation and a series of symptoms, such as postnasal drip, obstruction, etc.
Can Covid-19 cause rhinosinusitis?
Yes, because it is a respiratory virus, and its means of transmission is through breathing.
When Coronavirus is contracted, the first affected area is the nose and throat. The symptoms of this disease are varied and may present in different ways in each patient. However, respiratory discomfort will always be present.
Post-nasal drip and respiratory obstruction may cause inflammation and mucus accumulation, generating a long-term after-effect of sinusitis.
Can there be after-effects of Covid-19?
These post-Covid symptoms depend largely on the individual conditions of each patient and can be classified as mild or severe depending on the intensity of the symptom.
The main perceived discomforts are: joint pain, fatigue, insomnia, chest pain and dyspnea, which is shortness of breath. It is because of the latter that a major complication of rhinosinusitis can occur.
We recommend that, after living this disease, you go for a general medical check-up to avoid advanced complications. At least after four weeks, it is advisable to see a doctor who can check the condition of your body and detect any complications sooner rather than later.
What about allergic rhinitis and Covid-19?
Something similar to the after-effects happens with allergic rhinitis patients. It can be said that their quality of life is affected to a greater extent. In addition, as the symptoms are similar between the two conditions, there is often a lot of confusion about it.
Patients with a history of rhinitis should deepen their self-care methods in order to keep symptoms under control and achieve a strategy of differentiating the two diseases.
How can rhinosinusitis be managed?
The treatment of this disease should be recommended by a medical specialist who identifies your particular case and thus can provide a specific solution.
In this regard, we would like to emphasize the following aspects:
Allergic rhinitis is not a badly cured cold. While they are conditions with similar symptoms, rhinitis usually lasts longer, decreasing the patient's quality of life by not allowing correct breathing.
Rhinitis and asthma have something in common: allergy. It is important to pay immediate attention to the cause of this condition to avoid complications.
Identifying the actual condition is important to avoid complications, having a specific treatment and complying with it to the letter can ensure the improvement of the condition.
The blockage caused by allergic rhinitis can eventually lead to sinus infection problems, creating a more complex disease that produces more intense symptoms.
Avoid complications, and keep your health protected.
