The sinuses are hollow cavities in the skull that can fill up with mucus when infected. The mucus produced in the sinuses usually drains out of the nose. Each sinus is covered with a mucous membrane, which can become inflamed and swollen. The flow of mucus out of the sinuses is then obstructed and the mucus accumulates in the sinuses, therefore leading to sinusitis.
Sinusitis affects many people including children. There are two types of sinusitis:
- Acute sinusitis also known as acute rhinosinusitis
- Chronic sinusitis which lasts for at least eight weeks, even with treatment