What are Ethmoid Sinuses?

A pair of Ethmoid Sinuses (air-filled, mucus-lined, match-box size cavities) are located within the human skull in the space between the eye sockets and above the nose. Ethmoid sinuses drain into the nose through a set of small openings.

The anterior areas of the ethmoid sinuses are the most crucial of all the sinuses because not only the frontal sinuses, but also the maxillary sinuses drain through the anterior ethmoid sinuses, into the nose. The posterior areas of the ethmoid sinuses drain into the nose through separate openings.

The mucosal lining of the sinuses contain ethmoidal cells covered with cilia (tiny hair-life fibers) that propel the mucus toward the drainage openings.

What is Ethmoid Sinusitis / Ethmoiditis?

When the mucosal lining (sinus mucosa) of the ethmoid sinuses develops inflammation, it results in swelling (edema) of the mucosa. Considering that ostia (conduit that drains ethmoid sinuses into the nose) is very small in diameter to start with, inflammation/swelling of the mucosa causes the blockage of the ostia. Reduction in the flow of the mucociliary drainage causes the mucus content to accumulate within the ethmoid sinuses. Build up of mucosal secretions within the sinuses eventually results in an infection -a condition known as Ethmoid Sinusitis or Ethmoiditis.

What Causes Ethmoid Sinusitis (Ethmoiditis) Sinus Infection Disease?

Causes of Ethmoid Sinusitis include: Anatomical/structural defects (such as a deviated septum or an enlarged turbinate), Chronic bacterial (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, etc.) infections, Exposure to allergens and environmental pollutants, Foreign bodies, Fungal infections, Immunocompromise, Placement of feeding tubes, Polyps, Trauma, Tumors, Upper Respiratory Tract (URT) infections, Viral infection of the nasal passages, and Viral infection of the sinuses.

Signs and Symptoms of Ethmoid Sinusitis (Ethmoiditis):

Symptoms of ethmoid sinusitis often includes:

• Headache in the temples,
• Pain in the lower forehead,
• Stuffy/Runny nose,
• Postnasal discharge or postnasal drip,
• Breathing difficulties,
• Sinus pain and/or sinus pressure around the inner corners of the eyes,
• Worsening of the symptoms while lying on the back and improvement of the same while the head in upright position.

Ethmoid Sinusitis Diagnosis / Diagnostic Tests for Ethmoiditis:

Diagnosis of Ethmoiditis (ethmoid sinusitis) usually involve the following:

• Careful review of patient's complete history,
• Review of any known allergies,
• Physical examination, including endoscopic examination of the nasal passages, and
• CT scans of the paranasal sinuses.

Ethmoid Sinusitis / Ethmoiditis Treatment:

Depending upon the underlying cause, treatment options for ethmoid sinusitis or ethmoditis sinus disease may include the following:

• Allergy shots, Antihistamines, Decongestants, Mucus-thinning agents, and Steroids for allergic ethmoiditis (ethmoid sinus disease caused by exposure to allergens),
• Anti-fungal medications for fungal ethmoid sinusitis,
• Antibiotic treatment therapy for bacterial ethmoid sinusitis,
• Corrective surgery for ethmoiditis caused by anatomical/structural defects, and
• Decongestants, especially for viral ethmoid sinusitis.

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