Sinusitis

The symptoms of chronic sinusitis (sinusitis that comes back often or never seems to really go away) may be vague, making the condition hard to diagnose.

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis can vary from mild headaches around the eyes and yellow to green phlegm in the throat to severe facial pain, headache, yellow-green nasal discharge, nasal congestion, chronic throat drainage, sore throat, and cough.

Antibiotics are the main treatment for sinusitis. In acute, uncomplicated sinusitis, antibiotics combined with decongestants are effective in most cases.

Our doctors have the tools to diagnose chronic sinusitis accurately and treat it effectively. CT scans of the sinuses provide a more detailed view than standard sinus x-rays. Endoscopes (rigid fiber-optic instruments the size of a straw) are used to examine inside the nose.

When antibiotic treatment fails or when complications develop, surgery may be the answer. WVU offers the latest in minimally invasive surgery, balloon sinuplasty. Balloon sinuplasty uses a tiny inflating balloon to expand blocked passageways in the sinuses. The technique is virtually painless, allowing patients who have had the procedure to return to their daily routines with little to no discomfort.