Sinusitis Specialist

Nearly 12% of all American adults live with diagnosed sinutitis. If facial pain, headaches, and seemingly endless nasal symptoms are dragging you down, board-certified allergist Vasif Kalfa, MD, at Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland, can help. Schedule your testing and treatment at the Silver Spring, Maryland, office by phone or use the online appointment maker.

Sinusitis Q & A

What is sinusitis?

Rhinosinusitis, or sinusitis, is a condition in which the sinus cavities in your face become inflamed, swollen, and clogged. The main forms of sinusitis are:

Acute sinusitis

Acute sinusitis lasts less than a month. Usually, acute sinusitis starts as a common cold but persists after your cold passes. Most cases of acute sinusitis resolve in 7-10 days.

Chronic sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis occurs when your condition persists for longer than 12 weeks, even after treatment. If you have hay fever or asthma, you're more likely to experience chronic sinusitis.

Both acute and chronic sinusitis can be extremely uncomfortable, so it's best to seek diagnosis and care early in the course of your condition. Untreated sinusitis can lead to a bacterial infection, which worsens your symptoms.

What are the symptoms of sinusitis?

Sinusitis can cause many persistent and unpleasant symptoms, such as:

• Headaches
• Sinus area pressure or pain, which may extend to the teeth and ears
• Cloudy, yellow, or green nasal drainage
• Postnasal drip, often causing a bad taste in your mouth
• Sore throat
• Chronic cough
• Fatigue
• Bad breath

You may also develop a low-grade fever with sinusitis.

How is sinusitis diagnosed?

At Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland, Dr. Kalfa determines the underlying cause of your sinusitis through a physical nose and throat exam, medical history review, and testing.

You commonly need allergy or immunology diagnostics like blood, patch, skin prick, or intradermal testing to determine any triggers. Dr. Kalfa may also examine your nasal passages up close using an advanced intranasal scope.

If you have severe chronic sinusitis, Dr. Kalfa may also use specialized imaging like a CT scan or MRI to check for structural abnormalities — like nasal polyps or a deviated septum — that may cause sinusitis symptoms.

How is sinusitis treated?

Upon diagnosis, Dr. Kalfa can start your sinusitis treatment immediately. For bacterial sinus infections, you usually need to take antibiotics for 3-28 days.

Antihistamines, nasal decongestant sprays, nasal corticosteroid sprays, and nasal lavage (sinus rinsing) are some of the most common treatments for sinusitis. Dr. Kalfa creates a treatment plan to alleviate your symptoms as quickly as possible.

If you need help with lingering nasal symptoms, call Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland or use the online appointment scheduler.