Sinusitis is a minor issue and can be treated easily. However, if left untreated, it can turn out to be a menace. The infections in the sinus can spread to the chest, lungs or the brain depending on the severity and the propagation speed of the parasite. Certain anatomical or pathological traits of people can also leave them more prone to sinus infection compared to others.
The following are some of the factors that can leave a person prone to sinus infections:
- Allergic Rhinitis – Also known as nasal allergy, it can cause swelling of the tissues in the inner lining of the nose and block the drainage channels of the sinus. This condition can cause the sinuses to be more susceptible to infection from parasitic organisms.
- Other Blockages – Blockages can also be caused due to other factors. For instance, nasal polyps can cause the drainage channels to get blocked. Further, children might push small objects such as peas or plastic beads into their nose. In addition, facial injury or previous surgery and congenital abnormalities can also cause blockage in sinus and make you susceptible to sinusitis.
- Asthma – Severity of asthma can decide how debilitating the sinus infection will be
- Cystic fibrosis – Sinusitis is a common complication in patients with Cystic Fibrosis, which is a disease in the lower respiratory tract
- Bad immune system – People having HIV or people on chemotherapy may have a bad immune system and become susceptible to sinusitis
- Inflammatory disorders – Wegener’s Granulomatoris or Sarcoidosis are examples of inflammatory disorders that can invite sinusitis
- Pregnancy – This can make you prone to rhinitis, which can lead to sinusitis
- Rare Tumours – Nasal tumours can cause issues such as blockages and make you susceptible to sinusitis
- Certain Medical Procedures – Some medical procedures such as ventilation or insertion of tube through the nose into the stomach can cause sinusitis later
- Smoking – Smoking cigarettes or anything else causes the cilia to stop working leaving the lungs and sinuses open to infection
