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The upper respiratory tract—the nose, nasal passages or sinuses, and the pharynx—filters and warms the air we breathe. Several abnormalities, such as nasal polyps and excess tissue growth in the nasal cavity, may affect CF patients. Polyps are usually not a problem unless they obstruct the nasal passage.
| | Compare the normal sinuses to sinuses with CF by toggling between the two buttons in the menu above. |
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Chronic Sinusitis
Regular sinusitis occurs when abnormally thick mucus clings to sinus secretions that become infected and inflamed. Mucus in the sinuses can not be effectively cleared in the same way the lungs cannot be cleared. This promotes buildup of bacteria and inflammation that creates more mucus production. The result is chronic sinusitis. | Diagnosis | Chronic sinusitis | | Symptoms | Low fevers, changes in nasal discharge, nasal polyps and tiredness. | | Treatments | Antibiotics, nasal saline sprays, and surgical drainage. |
Treatment of chronic sinusitis, either by long-term antibiotic care and/or surgery, is important prior to lung transplants because untreated sinusitis may increase the chances of lung infections after surgery. | | A CT scan of a child with CF shows that the right maxillary sinus is completely filled with mucus. |
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