The sinuses are a combination of large and small air pockets in the skull, connected to the inside of the nose through small openings. The sinuses can become infected due to a variety of reasons. The symptoms usually associated are nasal obstruction, facial congestion, headaches, excessive catarrh, disturbance in the sense of smell and toothache.
Nasal polyps are tissue growths that grow inside the nasal passages and sinuses. Large nasal polyps can block the nasal passage and cause symptoms such as a blocked or runny nose or a loss of smell and taste.
The symptoms of nasal polyps are also associated with many other conditions, including the common cold. However, colds usually clear up whereas nasal polyps don’t go away without treatment. See your GP or a specialist if you have cold-like symptoms that last for more than two weeks. If polyps develop in or near the sinuses, they may cause a sinus infection that leads to pain and tenderness in the face.
In many cases sinusitis can be treated effectively by medications and correcting any underlying cause such as allergies. If conservative treatment fails then surgery may be considered. Further information on sinusitis is to be found on the information leaflets available on the links here.
There has been great improvement in the surgical treatment over the past few years. Minimally invasive surgery is now the standard of care and Mr Frosh has excellent results from his sinus surgery, as published in medical journals. Further information on endoscopic sinus surgery is to be found on the information leaflets available on the links here.