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Chronic Sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis refers to inflammation of the sinuses that continues for at
least 3 weeks, but often continues for months or even years.
As noted above,
allergies are frequently associated with chronic sinusitis. Patients with asthma
have a particularly high frequency of chronic sinusitis. Inhalation of airborne
allergens (substances that provoke an allergic reaction), such as dust, mold,
and pollen, often set off allergic reactions (allergic rhinitis) that, in turn,
may contribute to sinusitis. People who are allergic to fungi can develop a
condition called "allergic fungal sinusitis."
Damp weather,
especially in northern temperate climates, or pollutants in the air and in
buildings also can affect people subject to chronic sinusitis.
Like acute
sinusitis, chronic sinusitis is more common in patients with immune deficiency
or abnormalities of mucus secretion or movement (e.g., immune deficiency, HIV
infection, cystic fibrosis, Kartagener's syndrome). In addition, some patients
have severe asthma, nasal polyps, and severe asthmatic responses to aspirin and
aspirin-like medications (so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or
NSAIDs). These latter patients have a high frequency of chronic sinusitis
Eye Allergies: Allergic Conjunctivitis
The medical term for eye allergies is allergic conjunctivitis.
It occurs when the eyelid membrane becomes inflamed. Symptoms of eye allergies
include red eyes, swollen or puffy eyelids, watery eyes and crusting around the
eyelid.
Eye allergies do not cause vision loss, nor do they usually cause
photosensitivity. If you do experience photosensitivity, intense itching or
blurry vision you may have a form of conjunctivitis known as atopic
keratoconjunctivitis, a serious condition that can lead to the loss of
sight. Atopic keratoconjunivitis is a complication of atopic dermatitis,
the most common form of eczema. To learn more about types of eczema, causes and
prevention, go to the
eczema treatment
site.
Chronic Sinusitis and Sinus Headaches
Continued inflammation of the sinus passages due to allergic reactions can
result in chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis is the cause of an estimated 33
million visits to the doctor every year in the United States alone. Symptoms can
include sinus headaches (due to inflamed sinus cavities), fever, coughing, nasal
congestion, a runny nose and postnasal drip. Most cases of chronic sinusitis
last between three to eight weeks, but they can last months, or even years if
the sinuses are constantly irritated by allergies.
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