Dr. Vladimir Zaitsev, an ear, nose and throat specialist, stated that not treating a runny nose and believing that it will go away on its own often leads to sinusitis.
According to him, the illness progresses rapidly within the first few hours of onset. During this period, the mucous membrane swells, blocking the passage to the maxillary or frontal sinuses, leading to pus accumulation and a rapid deterioration of the condition.
He says: “The first mistake is neglecting treatment, thinking that a runny nose will go away on its own. The inflammation never subsides, but continues minute by minute and second by second, day and night, without stopping. The sinus opening closes, and thick pus accumulates in it. As a result, severe pain develops, the cheeks and eyelids swell, and the person becomes unable to touch his face.”
He adds: “If no intervention occurs immediately, the pus penetrates the mucous membranes and destroys them. In the case of sinusitis, the upper eyelid swells, it becomes difficult to open the eye, and the patient feels pain in the cheek. The next stage is secondary purulent meningitis, where the inflammation spreads to the meninges. In such cases, the patient ends up in the intensive care unit instead of the ENT department, where emergency sinus drainage surgery is often necessary.”
Another serious mistake, according to him, is self-rinsing the nose under pressure, which can cause fluid to accumulate in the sinuses and worsen inflammation.
He says: “When a person washes their nose thinking they are helping themselves, they are actually pushing the solution into the sinuses, where it cannot get out because of the valve mechanism. In this narrow space, the fluid accumulates, and the whole process repeats itself – pain, swelling, pus, and the risk of developing meningitis. Even if the patient later recovers from a serious condition, their illness often becomes chronic.”
According to him, improvement in treating a runny nose should be noticeable within the first few days. If the nose is blocked today, improves tomorrow, and disappears the following day, then the process is progressing well. However, if the symptoms worsen or the condition deteriorates, especially with self-treatment, an ENT specialist should be consulted immediately, because the earlier treatment begins, the greater the chance of avoiding complications and a faster recovery.
