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Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Sinusitis) that could possibly cause Sinusitis includes:
The follow list shows some of the possible medical causes of Sinusitis that are listed by the Diseases Database:
To research the causes of Sinusitis, consider researching the causes of these these diseases that may be similar, or associated with Sinusitis:
Causes of Types of Sinusitis: Review the cause informationfor the various types of Sinusitis:
Causes of Broader Categories of Sinusitis: Review the causal information about the various more general categories of medical conditions:
Other conditions that might have Sinusitis as a complication may, potentially, be an underlying cause of Sinusitis. Our database lists the following as having Sinusitis as a complication of that condition:
Conditions listing Sinusitis as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Sinusitis. Our database lists the following as having Sinusitis as a symptom of that condition:
The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible
causes of Sinusitis as a symptom.
This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances
may cause your symptoms.
Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using,
including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
See full list of 70 medications causing Sinusitis
Causes: Sinusitis:
Can be bacterial or fungal infections.
Article excerpts about the
causes of Sinusitis:
Most cases of
acute sinusitis start with a common cold, which is caused by a
virus. These viral colds do not cause symptoms of sinusitis, but
they do inflame the sinuses. Both the cold and the sinus
inflammation usually go away without treatment in 2 weeks. The
inflammation, however, might explain why having a cold increases
your likelihood of developing acute sinusitis. For example, your
nose reacts to an invasion by viruses that cause infections such as
the common cold or flu by producing mucus and sending white blood
cells to the lining of the nose, which congest and swell the nasal
passages.
When this swelling involves the adjacent mucous
membranes of your sinuses, air and mucus are trapped behind the
narrowed openings of the sinuses. When your sinus openings become
too narrow, mucus cannot drain properly. This increase in mucus sets
up prime conditions for bacteria to multiply.
Most healthy
people harbor bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae
and Haemophilus influenzae, in their upper respiratory
tracts with no problems until the body's defenses are weakened or
drainage from the sinuses is blocked by a cold or other viral
infection. Thus, bacteria that may have been living harmlessly in
your nose or throat can multiply and invade your sinuses, causing an
acute sinus infection.
Sometimes, fungal infections can
cause acute sinusitis. Although fungi are abundant in the
environment, they usually are harmless to healthy people, indicating
that the human body has a natural resistance to them. Fungi, such as
Aspergillus, can cause serious illness in people whose
immune systems are not functioning properly. Some people with fungal
sinusitis have an allergic-type reaction to the fungi.
Chronic inflammation of the nasal passages also can lead to
sinusitis. If you have allergic rhinitis or hay fever, you can
develop episodes of acute sinusitis. Vasomotor rhinitis, caused by
humidity, cold air, alcohol, perfumes, and other environmental
conditions, also may be complicated by sinus infections.
Acute sinusitis is much more common in some people than in
the general population. For example, sinusitis occurs more often in
people who have reduced immune function (such as those with immune
deficiency diseases or HIV infection) and with abnormality of mucus
secretion or mucus movement (such as those with cystic fibrosis).
(Source: excerpt from Sinusitis, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
If you have asthma, an
allergic disease, you may have frequent episodes of chronic
sinusitis.
If you are allergic to airborne allergens, such
as dust, mold, and pollen, which trigger allergic rhinitis, you may
develop chronic sinusitis. In addition, people who are allergic to
fungi can develop a condition called "allergic fungal sinusitis."
If you are subject to getting chronic sinusitis, damp
weather, especially in northern temperate climates, or pollutants in
the air and in buildings also can affect you.
Like acute
sinusitis, you might develop chronic sinusitis if you have an immune
deficiency disease or an abnormality in the way mucus moves through
and from your respiratory system (e.g., immune deficiency, HIV
infection, and cystic fibrosis). In addition, if you have severe
asthma, nasal polyps (small growths in the nose), or a severe
asthmatic response to aspirin and aspirin-like medicines such as
ibuprofen, you might have chronic sinusitis often.
(Source: excerpt from Sinusitis, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Sinusitis:
As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Sinusitis may be found in:
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