Sinusitis is an infection or inflammation of the mucous membranes
that line the inside of the nose and facial sinuses. Facial sinuses are hollow
spaces, or cavities, located in the skull around the eyes, cheeks, and nose.
When a mucous membrane becomes inflamed, it swells, blocking the
drainage from the sinuses into the nose and throat and causing pressure and
pain in the sinuses. Bacteria are more likely to grow in sinuses that are
unable to drain properly. Symptoms may include pain and pressure in the face,
yellow or greenish discharge from the nose, nasal congestion, and sometimes a
fever, a chronic cough that produces mucus, and a reduced sense of taste or
smell.
Sinusitis often improves on its own, but it may need to be treated
with antibiotics or other medications if symptoms are severe or last longer
than 4 weeks.
