Hill Country Ear, Nose & Throat
Charles F. Lano, Jr., MD, FACS
Ear, Nose & Throat Doctor & Sleep Medicine Doctor located in New Braunfels, TX
Your runny nose, congestion, and headache might not be a cold, but rather could be a sinus infection. Charles F. Lano, Jr., MD, and his experienced team at Hill Country Ear, Nose & Throat offer the most advanced care for acute and chronic sinus infections in New Braunfels, Texas. Whether you need relief from your symptoms, or innovative and minimally invasive treatments like Balloon Sinuplasty, Hill Country Ear, Nose & Throat has solutions. Call or schedule an appointment online today.
Sinus Infection Specialist
Sinus Infection
What is a sinus infection?
Sinus infections, or sinusitis, occurs when your nasal cavities become swollen and inflamed. Sinusitis often follows a common cold, causing pain and pressure in your face and head. In chronic sinus infections, your infection or inflammation doesn’t completely go away for 12 or more weeks.
Symptoms of a sinus infection include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Bad breath
- Pain in your teeth
- A productive cough
Sinus infections also reduce your sense of taste or smell.
What causes a sinus infection?
The same virus that causes the common cold also causes most sinus infections.
Viral infections cause inflammation and swelling of the lining of your nasal passages, resulting in viral sinusitis. This swelling prevents the normal drainage of fluid from your sinuses into your nose and throat. Over time, it builds up, and bacteria or fungi might grow.
When bacterial or fungal infections develop, they cause more pain and swelling. They can also last longer and worsen over time, becoming chronic.
Sinusitis can also develop because of nasal allergies and other blockages that allow fluid to build up in the sinuses.
How is a sinus infection treated?
Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, which typically resolve on their own within 10-14 days. To ease your symptoms, Dr. Lano might recommend:
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Breathing warm, moist steam
- Over-the-counter medications
- Applying a warm compress to your face
If a bacterial or fungal infection is present, medications like antibiotics, antifungals, and steroids are prescribed to treat your specific condition.
For sinus infections that don’t resolve or their own or respond to medication, Dr. Lano might recommend Balloon Sinuplasty (BSP).
What is Balloon Sinuplasty?
Dr. Lano and his team at Hill Country Ear, Nose & Throat are proud to offer BSP to safely and effectively treat their patients who have sinus conditions that are chronic or unresponsive to medications.
During this minimally invasive procedure, Dr. Lano opens your inflamed sinus cavity the same way a heart surgeon opens a blocked artery during balloon angioplasty.
Performed without the cutting or removal of bone or nose tissue seen in traditional sinus procedure, BSP effectively relieves symptoms of chronic sinusitis and allows you to resume your normal activities quickly.
If you’re suffering from the acute or chronic sinusitis, call Hill Country Ear, Nose & Throat or schedule an appointment online to learn more.
