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Changing concepts of sinusitis
Author(s) -
Putney F. Johnson
Publication year - 1947
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-194710000-00004
Subject(s) - medicine , sinusitis , penicillin , cellulitis , surgery , osteomyelitis , sinus (botany) , antibiotics , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , genus
Abstract Realization of the importance of proper nasal and sinus physiology alters the approach to the problem of sinusitis, while the antibiotic and chemotherapeutic agents afford valuable weapons in treatment. Restoration rather than destruction of diseased tissue is the cardinal aim. When the pathologic change in the membrane is irreversible surgery is required, conservative operations being preferred. In longstanding suppurative sinusitis the membrane becomes fibrotic and little benefit results from the sulfonamides or penicillin. Sinusitis is classified as follows: 1. allergic, 2. mechanical, 3. bacterial. In general, allergic cases require primary attention to the allergic diathesis, those due to mechanical blockage are relieved by simple surgical procedures, and early bacterial sinusitis responds to penicillin. Penicillin is equally valuable in treating the complications of orbital cellulitis and osteomyelitis of the skull. When given early surgery can often be avoided, but in chronic osteomyelitis surgical drainage is usually needed in addition.