What is sinusitis?
Sinusitis is common, especially in South Texas. Acute sinusitis can be triggered by a cold or allergies and may resolve on its own. Chronic sinusitis can last from four to eight weeks or longer and may be caused by an infection from bacteria or fungus, Its cause can be hard to pin down and hard to treat. Symptoms include: facial pain, runny nose, yellow or green nasal drainage, nasal congestion and sinus headache.
Allergic Rhinitis
This condition occurs when the body’s immune system over-responds to specific, non-infectious particles such as plant pollens, molds, dust mites, animal hair, industrial chemicals (including tobacco smoke), foods, medicines, and insect venom. Essentially, during an allergic attack, antibodies, primarily immunoglobin E (IgE), attach to mast cells in the lungs, skin, and mucous membranes. Once IgE connects with the mast cells, a number of chemicals are released. One of the chemicals, histamine, opens the blood vessels and causes skin redness and swollen membranes. When this occurs in the nose, sneezing, drainage, and congestion are the result.
Treatment
Dr. Weiss is specially trained in the medical and surgical diagnosis and treatment of sinus, nasal, and allergy in both adults and children. Dr. Weiss provides care for a wide range of nasal and sinus disorders including chronic sinusitis, sinus headache, allergic rhinitis, nasal obstruction, turbinate hypertrophy, nasal valve collapse, deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps, and eustachian tube dysfunction. Dr. Weiss has a particular interest in sinus disease and is a skilled sinonasal surgeon offering state of the art diagnostic testing and minimally invasive endoscopic 3D image guided office surgical treatment.