How to treat swelling under the eye from sinusitis

Swelling with sinusitis is a normal condition with inflammation of the maxillary sinuses. However, you need to understand how to remove it.

We can say that edema is the most common and characteristic symptom of sinusitis.

If we consider the nasal mucosa as a kind of barrier that prevents the penetration of pathogens, then swelling only enhances the function of the barrier.

The symptom should be considered as a direct indication that inflammation caused by infection has begun in the sinuses.

If the swelling spreads further and affects the face and eye area, then this already indicates the consequences of sinusitis in general and serious inflammation.

Let’s immediately make a reservation that simply removing swelling does not mean curing the disease itself, because only the symptom will be relieved.

In other words, if you remove inflammation from the maxillary sinuses and cure the disease, then the swelling will also go away.

Swelling of the mucous membrane as a symptom of sinusitis

Inflammation of the maxillary sinuses is accompanied by symptoms such as:

nasal congestion;
absence or difficulty of nasal breathing;
copious purulent or serous discharge from the nasal cavity;
frequent sneezing;
distortion of voice coloring;
headache.

With prolonged progression of sinusitis, swelling of the soft tissues of the face appears on one or both sides, depending on the damage to the sinuses.

Facial swelling affects not only the cheek area, but also extends to the eye sockets and upper jaws. If sinusitis is not treated, swelling can lead to complications.

Bags will appear under the eyes, which will put pressure on the organ of vision. Intraocular pressure will increase, and the patient will start to cry for no reason. At the site of swelling, the skin will turn red due to inflammation. The danger is the penetration of excess purulent fluid into the upper jaw, which will begin to become inflamed.

Associated symptoms

The disease develops against the background of frequent headaches.

When swelling occurs due to pathology, the affected area gradually expands. Swelling can spread to the periocular area, and a reddened swelling appears. Sinusitis is accompanied by accompanying symptoms:

increased breathing as the airways narrow;
change in voice timbre;
pain in the swollen area;
prolonged runny nose;
swelling and redness of the eyelids;
hyperthermia;
formation of pus in the maxillary sinuses;
headache.

Why is it necessary to relieve swelling during sinusitis?

The maxillary or maxillary sinus is one of the paired sinuses of the nose, which are located on the sides of its wings and communicate with its cavity through a narrow nasal passage or anastomosis. With the help of this small opening, a subtle relationship is established between the sinus cavity and the nasal cavity and the environment. One of the main functions of the anastomosis is the outflow of fluid and mucus from the closed sinus cavity.

In the edematous form of inflammation, the swollen mucosa mechanically blocks the narrow anastomosis, and the sinus cavity with the inflammation growing in it remains completely closed. The exudate or inflammatory fluid formed during inflammation cannot leave the sinus cavity.

Why is this dangerous?

The increasing volume of fluid mechanically irritates the walls of the sinus, causing severe headaches.
Inflammatory fluid, deprived of outflow in a closed cavity, is an ideal environment for the proliferation of bacteria. This is how the main complication arises – purulent sinusitis.
With further proliferation of bacteria and an increase in pressure in the sinus cavity, there is a high risk of breakthrough of purulent contents into neighboring organs and tissues: the eye, meninges, upper jaw teeth, palate, pharynx.

Thus, treatment of edema and release of the sinus excretory duct is one of the main tasks in the fight against sinusitis.

Causes of edema

Inflammation of the maxillary sinuses is edematous if:

the ciliated epithelium of the nose ceases to perform its functions due to sudden hypothermia;
allergens and medications increase secretion;
the outflow of fluid is difficult due to sinusitis;
the whole body is poisoned.

If the swelling of the mucous membrane is not removed, then the multiplied bacteria from the nasal cavity will begin to spread to the vital organs of a person.

Symptoms of edematous sinusitis

The main signs of edematous sinusitis are difficult to overlook. With unilateral sinusitis, swelling is noticeable only on one side, and with bilateral sinusitis, swelling is noticeable on both. The patient also experiences a deterioration in his general condition and decreased performance.

Symptoms:

Increased body temperature;
Difficulty in breathing due to nasal congestion;
Voice change;
Poor mucus discharge;
Frequent headaches;
Swelling in the nasal area.

When the first symptoms of swelling of the nasal mucosa appear, it is necessary to begin therapeutic measures. Delayed therapy can cause chronic sinusitis, which is more difficult to treat.

Nasal rinsing

One of the effective methods for relieving swelling during sinusitis is rinsing the nose.

Benefits of rinsing:

Washing out mucus from the maxillary sinuses;
Preventing the spread of infection;
Removing swelling of the mucous membrane;
Restoring breathing.

The washing procedure can be done without leaving home or in a hospital setting.

Rinsing the nasal cavity at home. To carry out the procedure, you need to take a large syringe without a needle and fill it with a medicinal solution. Then, the person leans over the bathtub and places the syringe into one nostril. Under pressure, the liquid washes out the nasal cavity and flows out of the opposite nasal opening.
Washing on the “cuckoo” apparatus. This method is more effective for sinusitis compared to a home procedure. Medicine is supplied into one nasal passage, and from the other, under pressure, it is sucked out along with stagnant mucus and pus. Usually five sessions are enough to relieve swelling and eliminate the symptoms of the disease.

Rinsing preparations can be purchased at the pharmacy or prepared independently.

Nasal cleaners:

Saline solution. The simplest remedy for relieving swelling in sinusitis is a saline solution. To prepare it, you need to stir a tablespoon of salt in a glass of boiled water. Regular salt can be replaced with sea salt, and if desired, you can add a couple of drops of iodine to the solution. (warming the nose with salt)
Solutions based on Chlorhexidine, Furacilin, Dioxidine will help clear the nasal cavity of mucus and relieve swelling.

Medications for swelling

Medical drugs for relieving swelling in sinusitis are represented in several groups.

List:

Vasoconstrictor drugs are sold in the form of drops, sprays, and aerosols. The main principle of action of drugs is a temporary narrowing of blood vessels and capillaries, which helps relieve swelling in the nasal cavity during sinusitis. Long-term use of these drugs is not recommended due to the body's rapid adaptability. The most popular drops for relieving edema are Xylometazoline, Vibrocil, Snoop and others.
Antihistamines are prescribed for almost all types of sinusitis. Antiallergic drugs quickly relieve swelling and eliminate nasal congestion. Most often, doctors prescribe Suprastin, Zodak, Tavegil and other medications. It is not advisable to prescribe antihistamines yourself, as they have a number of side effects.
Anti-inflammatory drugs. Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Diclofenac will help eliminate the symptoms of sinusitis in the form of fever, chills, headache, swelling of the mucous membrane.
Glucocorticosteroids. Hormonal drugs in the form of drops, tablets, sprays can quickly relieve swelling, but at the same time they have a lot of side effects. Hormone-based medications for sinusitis are prescribed to the patient only as a last resort, when other methods of relieving swelling have not brought a positive result.

In addition to drug treatment, the patient is prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures. Pulsed currents, ultrasound, inhalations with mineral water will speed up the healing process.

How to relieve swelling using traditional medicine?

Therapeutic measures developed by otolaryngologists will help eliminate foci of inflammation and swelling of the face due to sinusitis. At the first stages of development of symptoms of inflammation of the sinus cavities, medications are prescribed:

The leading position is occupied by the use of antibiotics, because they are able to relieve the symptoms of inflammation within a day. Of the drugs for sinusitis, Erythromycin, Azithromycin, Augmentin, Ceftriaxone are considered the best.
Against inflammation and elevated body temperature, the use of Ibuprofen is optimal. The effect of the suspension and tablets occurs half an hour after administration and reaches a maximum after three hours.

How to fight

The appearance of fever, pain in the eyes and other accompanying symptoms during sinusitis indicate that sinusitis has long passed into an advanced stage and is destroying the body. Therefore, therapy must be started immediately. First of all, it should be aimed at the source of the problem, i.e. inflammation of the maxillary sinuses and removal of pus from them, if there is any.

Symptomatic therapy should also be connected in parallel in order to quickly cope with signs of complications and prevent further imbalance of the body. There are many remedies to help cope with pain in the organs of vision due to sinusitis.

Relieve swelling

To eliminate tissue swelling, it is usually recommended to use ointments. Pharmacy options are based on a gel base. These are comfortable and convenient to apply. Ointments for swollen eyes have several options:

relieve inflammatory processes;
have an antithrombic effect;
reduce pain;
eliminate swelling;
increase the strength of capillaries;
increase the tone of the muscles of the veins;
improve blood flow locally;
stimulate metabolic processes in tissues;
have an antibacterial effect.

This article will tell you what a blood test shows for sinusitis.

The active components of ointments are quickly released and penetrate into the deep layers of the skin. A pronounced effect can be noticed within half an hour to an hour after applying the product . Among the main drugs that are used for therapeutic purposes to eliminate eye swelling are:

Afulim;
Bezornil;
Troxevasin;
Hepatrombin;
Lyoton;
Relief;
Curiosin;
Heparin ointment;
Hydrocortisone ointment.

The doctor should offer one or another option, because the drugs have certain contraindications, and only a specialist can correctly evaluate them. The course of therapy is usually several days.

Treatment of conjunctivitis

Developed conjunctivitis is treated individually, depending on the patient’s age, history of diseases, gender, etc. Basically, these are general strengthening agents that support local immunity. The prescriptions also include antiviral and antibacterial drugs - it all depends on the pathogen. They may also offer rinsing with an antiseptic.

All information about exudative sinusitis is described at this link.

Among the drugs used for therapy are:

Tsipromed;
Albucid;
Okomistin;
Tobrex;
Phloximed;
Levomecitin and other options.

It is also recommended to use Tetracycline ointment, which should be placed on cotton wool under the eyelids at night. You can rinse your eyes with Chlorhexidine or Miramistin. The course lasts several days.

Remove the pain

Drugs in the form of drops will help relieve pain. Moreover, these should be products for the eyes, as well as vasoconstrictor drugs for the nasal cavity. The latter will restore ventilation of the nasal passages and reduce pressure and swelling.

In the first case, the drops will be the same as for the treatment of conjunctivitis. In the second, they are usually prescribed to restore breathing:

They can be used for no more than 7 days and as prescribed by a doctor. They are a must in the treatment of sinusitis.

Treatment with folk remedies

The goal of traditional medicine in the treatment of sinusitis is to cleanse the mucous membrane of bacterial secretions and remove purulent fluid as a spreader of infection. The sinus and its mucous membrane will return to normal if:

rinse your nose with saline solutions or herbal infusions - chamomile, calendula, sage;
carry out inhalations with the addition of soda, a few drops of fir oil, eucalyptus;
instill aloe juice, Kalanchoe, oil mixed with garlic or onion juice into the nose;
draw a grid on your feet with iodine and put on woolen socks at night;
warm up the paranasal sinuses by applying bags of heated salt and millet.

The first signs of inflammation of the maxillary sinuses

An alarming phenomenon indicating a complication is the prolonged manifestation of nasal congestion for more than 10 days. This occurs against the background of a lack of mucus secretion from the nasal passages with pressure exerted in the sinuses. Stagnation provokes discomfort, pain and creates conditions for the development of bacteria. The inflammation gradually turns into a purulent form.

Excessive mucus discharge will not be the best thing. It is important to pay attention to its color. If it is white or transparent, then the cause of inflammation is an allergy or the action of viruses. A green or yellow tint to the discharge indicates a bacterial nature. As the inflammatory process continues, swelling in the paranasal sinuses leads to active formation of pus. You should also consult a doctor if blood clots appear in your nasal discharge.

Swelling and inflammation are indicated by:

difficulty breathing through the nasal passages;
feeling that the nasal cavity is stuffy;
soreness in the area of the bridge of the nose with pain spreading to the head area.

Treatment of sinusitis

It is a rather difficult and time-consuming process. Treatment of acute inflammation of the paranasal sinuses involves the following:

intensive antibacterial therapy. At first, it is selected blindly, but after receiving the results of the smear culture, the most optimal drug is recommended to the patient;
carrying out detoxification measures;
anti-inflammatory drugs;
instillation of special drops into the nose that reduce swelling and inflammation;
in case of severe purulent process, the maxillary sinus is punctured with a special needle. Next, the contents of the cavity are sucked out, and an antibacterial agent is introduced instead;
When the inflammatory process has completely subsided, physiotherapy is indicated.

It should be remembered that throughout the entire treatment period (especially if it occurs during the cold season), the patient should wrap his face high with a scarf to prevent hypothermia. The full course of therapy for an acute process can last up to 2 months.

Chronic sinusitis is quite difficult to treat due to the fact that microbes have acquired a certain resistance after a long stay in the body, and therefore their response to medications is significantly reduced. Antibiotics in this case are prescribed only after culture. In the future, various biological additives, vitamins and other stimulants of the body’s defenses can be used. Treatment using a laser may also be useful: it leads to the final subsidence of the inflammatory process.

The main pharmacotherapy of allergic sinusitis is the use of antihistamines, glucocorticoids, etc.

For both acute and chronic sinusitis, the patient undergoes outpatient treatment (i.e. at home).

It is important to remember that in case of acute inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, strict bed rest is recommended. This will help prevent many life-threatening conditions.

Technique for puncture of the maxillary sinus

Since this manipulation is extremely common among ENT doctors, we will briefly summarize the main stages of its implementation.

To ensure that the patient does not experience any pain at all, the puncture is performed after the administration of a local anesthetic. The puncture is carried out through the nasal passage by puncturing a thin bone plate.

In cases where it is necessary to repeatedly administer drugs into the maxillary sinus or extract pus from it, the ENT doctor may recommend the installation of microscopic tubes through which inflammatory fluid flows out, which helps speed up the recovery process.

It is also worth clarifying that the puncture is also diagnostic, since the resulting contents of the maxillary sinus are sent for analysis to the laboratory.

Possible complications of puncture:

headache, which sometimes lasts several days;
discharge of a small amount of blood from the nose.

It is also worth debunking the most common misconception among ordinary people that a puncture performed once implies its constant implementation. In fact, a complete cure can occur after performing it once. It is only important that the patient consult a specialist at the very beginning of the disease.

Cheek swelling after dental treatment

This reaction of the body to filling occurs quite often in people. And for doctors there is no other choice but to remove the previously placed filling and then continue treating the tooth in some other way. If your cheek is too swollen, then before visiting a doctor, you can rinse your mouth with a weak solution of baking soda, apply cotton wool soaked in Kalanchoe juice to the affected area, or make a compress from crushed leaves of the named plant. By the way, aloe is ideal for flux. Its leaf should be cut in half lengthwise, the pulpy part should be applied to the gum and kept for an hour and a half.

Your doctor can warn you in advance about the appearance of a tumor on your cheek, but only if you had a complicated tooth extraction. The doctor is also required to give some recommendations on oral hygiene and food consumption. Thus, after a complex tooth extraction, it is not advisable for the patient to drink hot drinks, alcohol, or chew solid food over the next 24 hours. If such advice does not help you, and your cheek is still swollen, you should apply ice to it (for about 10 minutes), then remove it and repeat the procedure after half an hour. As a result of this, the capillaries should narrow under the influence of cold, and the swelling should gradually disappear.

By the way, exactly one day after removing a “wise” tooth, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with a salt solution (one glass of warm boiled water should contain half a dessert spoon of the bulk product). At the same time, it is extremely undesirable to touch the place with your tongue, fingers or other hard objects where the tooth previously was. Otherwise, you can further damage the unhealed wound, as well as introduce a dangerous infection or virus there. In addition, it is recommended to refrain from brushing teeth located next to the inflamed area of the gum. Of course, after a couple of days you will be able to carry out this procedure, but at first it is best to use a brush with soft bristles.

The cheek is swollen, but the tooth does not hurt. What to do if your cheek is swollen?

The cheek is swollen, but the tooth does not hurt. Patients quite often turn to their doctors with such a contradictory complaint. To identify the true cause of this pathological condition, the doctor must not only conduct a personal examination, but also take an x-ray. And only after this can a specialist say with confidence why his patient’s cheek is swollen, but the tooth does not hurt.

So, let's look together at why this pathological condition occurs.

Infection

Your cheek is swollen, does your tooth hurt? This symptom may indicate the presence of a serious infectious disease such as mumps, or “mumps.” This disease most often manifests itself in preschool children. However, there are also situations where adults also become infected with it. In this case, the disease progresses and is much more difficult to treat, and also has serious complications. That is why, if you did not have mumps as a child, and suspect that you have become infected with it, then it is better not to put off calling a doctor for too long.

If all of the above reasons have nothing to do with you, then try to remember if you were bitten by any insect. Indeed, quite often it is precisely this case that leads to severe swelling of the cheeks and other parts of the body. To reduce inflammation, it is recommended to apply a baking soda lotion to the affected area or take an antihistamine.