Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sinusitis

Sinusitis may be as benign as the common cold, but that has not turned away researchers from coming up with medical advances to easily diagnose and cure the condition. Technology is especially useful, since millions of people in the United States alone suffer from the uncomfortable symptoms of sinusitis. Especially cumbersome is its chronic form which can last for more than 12 weeks. The condition is also a component of other, more serious diseases such as cystic fibrosis and Kartagener Syndrome, and may indicate immune system disorders such as HIV-AIDS.

The commonly used method of physicians in diagnosing sinusitis is also the simplest: a physical examination and an interview of medical history. The method has its shortcomings: the factors that come together contributing to the development of the condition is not addressed and coming up with a treatment plan requires further testing. A research by the Georgia School of Medicine came up with an objective test that identifies certain proteins in the blood of patients suffering from chronic sinusitis. The study aims to classify patients into groups and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments among them. In the future, this method can rapidly cure sufferers and reduce antibiotic prescription and use.

Another study made use of Doppler ultrasound sensor to determine the viscosity of sinus fluid in patients with sinusitis. This immediately indicated whether antibiotic therapy was needed because a highly viscous sinus fluid is a sign of bacterial infection. In severe cases of chronic sinus obstruction, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital demonstrated the efficiency of balloon sinuplasty. Similar to angioplasty, a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted through the nose and opens up the sinus drainage to reduce pressure. The Doppler technique and balloon sinuplasty eliminates the unpleasant nasal flushing practiced in diagnosis, and both are minimally invasive and do not require surgery.