What can be done to prevent the condition?

Persons who have allergic diseases need to avoid their trigger allergens and use aggressive treatment to limit the damage to the nasal lining and the sinuses. For environmentally caused disease, avoiding exposure to cold air, keeping the air humidified and minimizing exposure to pollutants all help. Aggressive treatment of symptoms will help minimize damage.

For people with structural problems of the nose and sinuses, topical corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone or betamethasone, and saltwater rinses are the best means of limiting chronic irritation.

What are the long-term effects of the condition?

Long-term effects depend on the underlying causes and the effects of sinus opening obstruction. Left untreated, chronic sinusitis can cause significant problems because the infection erodes the bony walls. In the frontal sinus, this can lead to pressure on the eyeball and double vision, forehead swelling, or brain abscesses and meningitis. In the ethmoid sinus, this can lead to abscess around the eye. In the maxillary sinus, this can lead to blockage of the nose. In the sphenoid sinus, this can lead to double vision and decreased movement of the eyeball, or brain abscesses and meningitis.

What are the risks to others?