In the last 10 years, chronic sinusitis patients, women have 6% more than men
Feb 17, 2025
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This is the result of analyzing data on chronic sinusitis patients from 2014 to 2023 by Bundang Jesaeng Hospital.
According to the data, it has been on the decline since 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, but in 2023, it has increased compared to 10 years ago.
In addition, after their 20s, there were more female patients than men.
Sinus refers to an empty space with air located in the bones around the nose, and sinusitis is a common name for inflammatory diseases of the sinus mucosa. The disease is divided into acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis depending on the duration of symptoms, and acute sinusitis refers to cases where symptoms are within four weeks, and chronic sinusitis is a disease in which inflammation lasts for more than three months. Major symptoms include nasal congestion, yellow runny nose, loss of smell, facial pain, and cough, and in severe cases, complications such as otitis media or asthma can be accompanied.
Bae Mi-rye, head of the otolaryngology department at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, said, `When looking at the age statistics of chronic sinusitis patients, patients under the age of 9 are the most common, and they show a decline from their teens to their 20s and then increase again in their 30s. The reason for the high number of sinusitis patients in children is due to the frequency and anatomical structure of upper respiratory tract infections. Children catch an average of six to eight colds a year, and about 5 to 10% of them progress to sinusitis. In addition, children's sinuses are less developed than adults and have a narrow entrance, making the outlet easily blocked by mucosal edema, making them vulnerable to sinusitis."
In addition, section chief Bae Mi-rye "When looking at gender statistics, it was found that women were treated more for chronic sinusitis than adult men. This is similar in overseas statistics, and is thought to be due to the relatively small nose and sinus structure of women, the characteristics of women's immune system to cause inflammatory reactions more easily, and the effect of female hormones on the nasal mucosa. In addition, even with the same chronic sinusitis, women tend to feel more subjective symptoms than men, so there may be more visits to medical institutions."
Surgical treatment is performed when sinusitis does not improve even with medication, mucus discharge is difficult due to anatomical problems, or when mucus discharge is not normal due to water lice.
The sinus endoscopic surgery removes inflammation and mucus and opens the sinus entrance wide to discharge the accumulated secretions, clearing the blocked airways. In particular, when sinusitis occurs in areas close to the eyes or brain, precise surgery is required to protect the eyes and brain and minimize damage to the cranial floor. At this time, the navigation system is very helpful.
Manager Bae Mi-rye said, "The navigation system using images of patients during surgery shows the exact position of the doctor's hand to move in real time, enabling sophisticated surgery. This can prevent strabismus, blindness, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage, which are serious complications caused by sinus surgery," he stressed.
In order to prevent chronic sinusitis, it is important to properly control allergic diseases, avoid irritating substances such as cigarette smoke, dust, and pollution, maintain proper indoor humidity, and prevent colds. In addition, if symptoms such as nasal congestion, laryngeal fistula, and cough persist for more than two weeks, it is recommended to consult an otolaryngologist for treatment.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
