Sinusitis : Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. It occurs as the result of an infection from a virus, bacteria, or fungus.
CAUSES
The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull. They are located behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes. Healthy sinuses contain no bacteria or other germs. Most of the time, mucus is able to drain out and air is able to flow through the sinuses.
When the sinus openings become blocked or too much mucus builds up, bacteria and other germs can grow more easily.
Sinusitis can occur from one of these conditions:
• Small hairs (cilia) in the sinuses fail to properly to move mucus out. This may be due to some medical conditions.
• Colds and allergies may cause too much mucus to be made or block the opening of the sinuses.
• A deviated nasal septum, nasal bone spur, or nasal polyps may block the opening of the sinuses.
There are two types of sinusitis:
• Acute sinutitis is when symptoms are present for 4 weeks or less. It is caused by bacteria growing in the sinuses.
• Chronic sinusitis is when swelling and inflammation of the sinuses are present for longer than 3 months. It may be caused by bacteria or a fungus.
The following may increase the risk that an adult or child will develop sinusitis:
• Allergic rhinitis or hay fever
• Cystic fibrosis
• Going to day care
• Diseases that prevent the cilia from working properly
• Changes in altitude (flying or scuba diving)
• Large adenoids
• Smoking
• Weakened immune system from HIV or chemotherapy
Symptoms
The symptoms of acute sinusitis in adults usually follow a cold that does not get better or gets worse after 5 - 7 days. Symptoms include:
• Bad breath or loss of smell
• Cough, often worse at night
• Fatigue and general feeling of being ill
• Fever
• Headache -- pressure-like pain, pain behind the eyes, toothache, or tenderness of the face
• Nasal stuffiness and discharge
• Sore throat and postnasal drip
Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are the same as those of acute sinusitis, but tend to be milder and last longer than 12 weeks.
Symptoms of sinusitis in children include:
• Cold or respiratory illness that has been getting better and then begins to get worse
• High fever, along with a darkened nasal discharge, that lasts for at least 3 days
• Nasal discharge, with or without a cough, that has been present for more than 10 days and is not improving
MEDICATIONS AND OTHER TREATMENTS
Most of the time, antibiotics are not needed for acute sinusitis. Most of these infections go away on their own. Even when antibiotics do help, they may only slightly reduce the time it takes for the infection to go away. Antibiotics may be prescribed sooner for:
• Children with nasal discharge, possibly with a cough, that is not getting better after 2 - 3 weeks
• Fever higher than 102.2° Fahrenheit (39° Celsius)
• Headache or pain in the face
• Severe swelling around the eyes
Acute sinusitis should be treated for 10 - 14 days. Chronic sinusitis should be treated for 3 - 4 weeks. Some people with chronic sinusitis may need special medicines to treat fungal infections.
At some point, your doctor will consider:
• Other prescription medications
• More testing
• Referral to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) or allergy specialist
Other treatments for sinusitis include:
• Allergy shots (immunotherapy) to help prevent the disease from returning
• Avoiding allergy triggers
• Nasal corticosteroid sprays and antihistamines to decrease swelling, especially if there are nasal polyps or allergies
Otitis media : .
Respiratoy tract infections : .
Urinary tract infection : A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection of the urinary tract. The infection can occur at different points in the urinary tract including:
• Bladder -- an infection in the bladder is also called cystitis or a bladder infection.
• Kidneys -- an infection of one or both kidneys is called pyelonephritis or a kidney infection.
• Ureters -- the tubes that take urine from each kidney to the bladder are only rarely the site of infection.
• Urethra -- an infection of the tube that empties urine from the bladder to the outside is called urethritis.
Causes
Most urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and then the bladder. The infection most commonly develops in the bladder, but can spread to the kidneys. Women tend to get them more often because their urethra is shorter and closer to the anus than in men. Because of this, women are more likely to get an infection after sexual activity or when using a diaphragm for birth control. Menopause also increases the risk of a UTI.
The following also increase your chances of developing a UTI:
• Diabetes
• Advanced age and conditions that affect personal care habits (such as Alzheimer's disease and delirium)
• Problems emptying the bladder completely
• Having a urinary catheter
• Bowel incontinence
• Enlarged prostate, narrowed urethra, or anything that blocks the flow of urine
• Kidney stones
• Staying still (immobile) for a long period of time (for example, while you are recovering from a hip fracture)
• Pregnancy
• Surgery or other procedure involving the urinary tract
Symptoms
The symptoms of a bladder infection include:
• Cloudy or bloody urine, which may have a foul or strong odor
• Low fever in some people
• Pain or burning with urination
• Pressure or cramping in the lower abdomen or back
• Strong need to urinate often, even right after the bladder has been emptied
If the infection spreads to your kidneys, symptoms may include:
• Chills and shaking or night sweats
• Fatigue and a general ill feeling
• Fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit
• Pain in the side, back, or groin
• Flushed, warm, or reddened skin
• Mental changes or confusion (in the elderly, these symptoms often are the only signs of a UTI)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Very bad abdominal pain (sometimes)
Treatment
• A simple UTI can be treated with a short course of oral antibiotics. You should also remember to drink plenty of liquids, especially around the time of a UTI.
• If the UTI is a complicated UTI, then a longer period of antibiotics is given and usually is started intravenously in the hospital. After a short period of intravenous antibiotics, then the antibiotics are given by mouth for a period up to several weeks. Kidney infections have usually been treated as a complicated UTI.
Skin infections : .