Causes
Factors which may predispose someone to developing sinusitis include: allergies; structural abnormalities, such as a deviated septum, small sinus ostia or a concha bullosa; nasal polyps; carrying the cystic fibrosis gene, though research is still tentative; and prior bouts of sinusitis, because each instance may result in increased inflammation of the nasal or sinus mucosa and potentially further narrow the nasal passageways.
A small case-control study in 2010 suggests that second hand smoke could also be associated with chronic rhinosinusitis.
Another cause of chronic sinusitis can be from the maxillary sinuses that are situated within the cheekbones. Infections and inflammation are more common here than in any of the other paranasal sinuses. This is because the drainage of mucous secretions from the maxillary sinus to the nasal cavity is not very efficient.
Maxillary sinusitis may also be of dental origin and constitutes a significant percentage, given the intimacy of the relationship between the teeth and the sinus floor. Complementary tests based on conventional radiology techniques and modern technology are needed. Their indication is based on the clinical context.
Chronic sinusitis can also be caused indirectly through a common but slight abnormality within the auditory or Eustachian tube, which is connected to the sinus cavities and the throat. This tube is usually almost level with the eye sockets but when this sometimes hereditary abnormality is present, it is below this level and sometimes level with the vestibule or nasal entrance. This almost always causes some sort of blockage within the sinus cavities ending in infection and usually resulting in chronic sinusitis.
Read more about this topic: Sinusitis