Aerosinusitis
Aerosinusitis is an acute inflammatory process of the paranasal sinuses, which occurs as a consequence of barotrauma. What is barotrauma? Barotrauma is called pathological processes that occur in the human respiratory organs under the influence of sudden changes in atmospheric pressure. Such diseases are characteristic of people of certain professions and occupations: military and civilian pilots, testers in pressure chambers, scuba divers, submariners, people who are fond of diving, etc.
The content of the article:
The mechanism of occurrence of aerosinusitis
The main symptoms of aerosinusitis
Diagnostics of aerosinuncitis
Treatment of aerosinusitis
Aerosinusitis
The mechanism of occurrence of aerosinusitis
The paranasal sinuses belong to the air-containing cavities of the human body, which means they have their own barometric pressure. When sudden changes in atmospheric pressure occur in the surrounding space (for example, during takeoff or landing of an airplane), there is a certain conflict between the pressure inside the paranasal sinuses and external pressure. Such changes adversely affect the blood supply to the mucous membranes of the paranasal sinuses, which leads to a narrowing of the entrance to the maxillary sinuses or the frontal-nasal canal and, as a consequence, to the development of the inflammatory process.
It is generally believed that there are a number of predisposing factors for the development of aerosinusitis. First of all, these are various violations of the anatomical structure of the nasal cavity. Such disorders can be both congenital and acquired (as a result of injuries, surgical interventions, etc.). Also, various infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract can be a “favorable background” for the development of aerosinusitis: allergic rhinitis and other diseases that lead to swelling of the mucous membrane, abundant discharge from the nasal cavity and other stagnant processes.
The main symptoms of aerosinusitis
Aerosinusitis has a number of symptoms that depend on the localization of the pathological process. In most cases, aerosinusitis has a bilateral nature of the lesion, that is, both frontal or both maxillary sinuses are involved in the inflammatory process at the same time.
At the time of receiving the barotrauma, the patient experiences acute pain in the nasal area. Depending on how serious the injuries are, a person may have the following symptoms:
headache of varying intensity;
pain radiating to the temporal lobes;
painful sensations in the patient’s face;
feeling of pressure or heaviness in the affected sinuses;
nasal congestion;
labored nasal breathing;
nosebleeds (rarely), etc.
If the maxillary sinuses are affected, then the patient has the phenomena of sinusitis, and in the case of traumatization of the frontal sinus — frontitis.
With improper or untimely treatment, various secondary infections may be added, which leads to a more complex course of the disease. In this case, the patient may have somatic disorders, namely:
increase in body temperature;
fever;
the feeling of “aching in the bones”;
toothache;
acute ear pain;
atypical discharge from the nasal cavity (thick, having a yellow or yellow-gray color);
violation of the olfactory function;
rapid fatigue;
weakness;
general malaise;
violation of sleep function.
Diagnostics of aerosinuncitis
The most important thing in the diagnosis of aerosinusitis is the collection of anamnesis, in order to establish barotrauma. After a detailed interview with the patient, the doctor proceeds to the initial examination. Some changes can be noticed “with the naked eye”. The patient’s face often visually appears swollen, when examining the skin in the area of the affected sinuses, some expansion of the skin capillaries can be noticed. Pay attention to breathing through the mouth — it becomes frequent and noisy. When talking, you can note some nasal voice.
The next stage of diagnostic examination is examination of the nasal cavity or rhinoscopy. The study is carried out with the help of special mirrors that help the otolaryngologist visualize the inner lining of the nose. Special preparation for such a diagnostic procedure is not required. With aerosinusitis, the patient has swelling of the nasal mucosa and its hyperemia (redness). A characteristic fluid is released from the affected sinuses during instrumental examination. This fluid and a smear from the nasopharynx are sent to the clinical diagnostic laboratory for bacteriological analysis. This analysis allows us to establish the presence of pathogenic microflora, which is important when selecting antibacterial drugs.
Quite often there is a situation in medical practice when, with barotrauma, several air-containing organs are simultaneously affected. In order to exclude damage to the hearing organs (aerotitis) and lung tissue, the patient is prescribed additional studies — otoscopy, audiometry and X-ray examination of the lungs. At the same time, radiography of the paranasal sinuses is performed. In the presence of aerosinusitis, characteristic darkening is visible on the X—ray, and in some clinical cases, the level of fluid in the sinus cavities.
Treatment of aerosinusitis
First of all, the patient is shown to eliminate the factors contributing to the development of pathology. People whose profession is associated with the possibility of repeated traumatization should be suspended from work for the duration of treatment (pilots, pressure chamber testers, divers, etc.).
In the treatment of aerosinusitis, all measures are aimed at improving the patient’s nasal breathing. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to remove swelling of the nasal mucosa and ensure normal drainage of the paranasal sinuses. The most effective method of washing the paranasal sinuses is the so—called “cuckoo”. The essence of the method is that a saline solution is poured into one nostril of the patient and with the help of suction it is removed through the other. At the same time, negative pressure is created in the paranasal sinuses and there is an outflow of purulent or other pathological discharge into the nasal cavity, which is then completely washed out.
To reduce the swelling of the mucosa, vasoconstrictive nasal preparations are used (nasal drops naphthyzine, nasivine, etc.). With severe pain syndrome, painkillers (analgesics) are prescribed.
Often, aerosinusitis is complicated by various bacterial infections. This combined form of aerosinusitis is the most dangerous for the patient. In the absence of timely adequate therapy, the patient may have serious complications that are classified as life-threatening to the patient (purulent meningitis, brain abscess, etc.). If the patient is diagnosed with a secondary infection, then he is prescribed a course of antibiotics, which is selected individually.
If the patient’s somatic condition is not disturbed (body temperature is normal), then physiotherapy procedures can be very effective: UHF, sollux, inhalation, etc. If conservative therapy is ineffective, then the patient is shown a surgical operation, during which the paranasal sinuses are surgically opened and cleaned of purulent contents. It is worth noting that with timely access to a doctor and the fulfillment of all his appointments, cases of severe complications are isolated.
