Pharmacy First - Sinusitis

If you want to take advantage of this free, NHS service, book an appointment here:

https://www.letchworthpharmacy.co.uk/pharmacy_first_letchworth

Or pop in and speak to a member of our pharmacy team.

Symptoms of Sinusitis

• Pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead
• A blocked or runny nose
• A reduced sense of smell
• Green or yellow mucus from your nose
• A high temperature

Less common symptoms:

• A headache
• Toothache
• Bad breath
• A cough
• A feeling of pressure in the ears

Sinusitis symptoms generally last up to four weeks. Sometimes the symptoms can last more longer, than four weeks. Even lasting months! This is known as chronic sinusitis i.e. the condition does not resolve within the usual timeframe. Rarely sinusitis becomes chronic (long-term) but when it does you will be referred to a specialist to treat the condition.

Treatment options for Sinusitis

There is a range of treatment options available to patients suffering from sinusitis:

• Over-the-counter medication
• Prescription nasal spray & drops
• Antibiotics
• Surgical treatments

Over-the-counter medication medication can come in many forms to help treat sinusitis. Antihistamines can be given and are effective in mitigating some symptoms. Otherwise, you could be given decongestant medication (nasal sprays). These are effective types of medication to help clear your sinuses, but they are only designed to provide short-term, temporary relief. Additionally, it's important to understand that over-the-counter medication might not be suitable for everyone, due to other health factors such as underlying health conditions which might be affected by these kinds of medication, or indeed other prescribed medications. Consult with our pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter medication.

Nasal sprays can come in four types:

• Antihistamine Sprays
• Decongestant Sprays
• Corticosteroid Sprays
• Saline Sprays

Many of these sprays are available over the counter but some nasal sprays require a prescription. Another effective option is corticosteroid nasal sprays. These work by reducing swelling and inflammation in the sinuses helping to ease symptoms. These nasal sprays are normally provided on a GP’s prescription. However we can now provide them through our free, new service, NHS Pharmacy First.

Book an appointment online or pop in and speak to a member of our pharmacy team:

Complications of Sinusitis

Some complications can result from sinusitis. Cellulitis is one example, which can show signs like swelling of the cheekbone or around the eyelid. This can become a severe complication and if you believe that you or a child has this complication you must seek appropriate treatment outside Pharmacy First. Cellulitis is a condition that is not covered by Pharmacy First, therefore cannot be treated by a pharmacist. Instead, you will be referred to receive treatment from your GP or perhaps a specialist, usually an ENT (Ears, Nose & Throat) specialist.

Another more serious complication that can occur from sinusitis is the infection spreading to nearby bone. This is thankfully, very rare. According to the NHS only 1 in 10,000 people with sinusitis will go on to develop an infection of nearby bone, so it’s a very low risk. Usually, you will be prescribed antibiotics which will help stop the spread and solve this problem. 

To be clear you must be treated with antibiotics before the infection spreads and takes hold.  Left untreated there is a significant health risk.

Who is most at risk?

Sinusitis is a more significant risk to certain groups of people.

Infants and young children: We have mentioned that children generally contract bacterial infections more frequently than adults. Reasoning for this is young children’s overall poor hygiene placing them at a higher risk of bacterial infections across the board and have less-well-developed immune systems.



Other people that can be at a higher risk of sinusitis are: Those with respiratory conditions like asthma particularly in children. Moderate to severe asthmatics are far more susceptible to chronic sinusitis. This can result in a cyclical pattern where symptoms of asthma leave you vulnerable to sinusitis which then feeds into worsening the symptoms of asthma. 

Those with allergies can be more vulnerable to sinusitis. Particularly allergies to pollen (Hay Fever) which can cause flu-like symptoms and inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis) other allergies that affect the respiratory system can also put you at an increased risk.

Structural issues or deformities in the nose can also cause a predisposition to sinusitis. For example, people with narrow nasal passages or deviated septum are at more risk of nose infections including sinusitis. Alternatively, those who have nasal polyps (growths on the inside of the nose) have a higher risk of sinusitis.

Smokers have a far higher risk of sinusitis. Smoking can damage the whole respiratory system compromising its effectiveness. Leaving the person vulnerable to a host of infections including sinusitis.

This is not an exhaustive list, there are many triggers for sinusitis and if notice any symptoms of this condition, book an appointment with our pharmacist and we can address them quickly no need to bother the GP!

How can NHS Pharmacy First help me? 

Sinusitis has always been a thorn in the side for those that suffer from this unpleasant condition. Now, thanks to NHS Pharmacy First these people can have the condition addressed and treated far more easily than ever before. This FREE service can be accessed by simply calling up Letchworth Pharmacy or booking an appointment online. In addition to this you can learn more about the six other conditions through out blogs that cover each condition in detail. This is a fantastic new service that will provide support to our GPs freeing them up to deal with more severe cases whilst also providing communities like Letchworth a better quality of healthcare by cutting down wait times for minor and common ailments. 

https://www.letchworthpharmacy.co.uk/pharmacy_first_letchworth

Conclusion

Sinusitis is a very common condition and even though it is not serious, can lead to some serious health problems. These complications are uncommon, rarely occurring but when / if they do it's important to get ahead of them so that you are not left with any long-term health issues. Creating and maintaining good hygiene can help reduce the chances of health complications occurring (this will help prevent bacterial infections across the board). Rest assured most cases of sinusitis will resolve themselves without any further health complications but if you are worried and this is not the case for you, Pharmacy First is ready and waiting to provide health solutions for this condition. 

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