 | The sinuses, which are usually filled with air, are typically full of thick, sticky mucus in CF patients. Therapies like inhaled steroids and irrigation of the sinuses can clear mucus out of the sinuses and decrease swelling. Nasal Steroids Medicine that you inhale, called nasal steroids, can also help reduce sinus swelling and symptoms like runny nose. They can be used for long periods of time. Irrigation Flushing out your sinuses with a saline solution, a process called irrigation, may reduce the amount of mucus and bacteria in your sinuses. Because these sinuses are difficult to reach, antibiotics you take by mouth or through an IV rarely get rid of all the bacteria. Antibiotics When decongestants and nasal steroids do not take away your sinus pain, antibiotics may help. The bacteria that infect your sinuses are similar to those that infect your lungs. CF patients get sinus infections a lot, and antibiotic treatments may take several weeks to stop them. Sinus Surgery When medicines do not heal your sinus infection, you may have to have an operation to drain the sinuses and remove the infection. Sometimes patients develop polyps in their sinuses. Shaped like little fingers of skin, polyps can interfere with breathing, and cause pain or an infection. Unfortunately, nasal polyps often grow back even after they are removed. 
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