Sphenoid sinus infection is the inflammation of the sphenoid paranasal cavity located right behind the eyes, deeper into the skull than any other sinuses. Both of these sinus cavities are the size of an olive and are unique in shape, like fingerprints, from individual to individual. Due to their close location to main blood arteries, optic nerve and all the other major brain centers, the treatment for sphenoid sinus infection should only be carried out by an ENT (ear, nose, throat) specialist. A person with a case of sphenoid sinus infection develops a debilitating headache radiating from the center of the skull behind the eyes, fever and sinus drainage. Symptoms worsen if a patient lies of bends down. The causes of a sphenoid sinus infection could be bacterial, viral, fungal or allergic in nature. Sometimes this condition can start out as sinus fungal infection and if not treated properly, can deepen into sphenoid type. Due to the deep location in the center of the skull, sphenoid infections are extremely hard to treat. A patient will require much stronger antibiotics for sinus infection taken for longer periods of time to ensure proper treatment. Along with antibiotic treatment, anti-inflammatory medications are prescribed to bring down the swelling and help with sinus headache. If none of the attempted treatments worked, a patient is recommended to undergo sphenoid sinus surgery to widen nasal passages and establish proper sinus drainage, culture of sinus mucus and tissue biopsy is taken to test for tumors and to determine the underlying causes for the specific type of infection.

If you develop a case of sphenoid sinus infection, do not hesitate and talk to your doctor, as success of your outcome depends on how fast the treatment is initiated to avoid serious health risks.

This information is not intended as medical advice and should be used only for educational purposes.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.