Shared association between sinusitis and asthma

Apart from the complications of bacterial and fungal infection in the sinuses, asthma is a major problem, because of a causal or shared association between sinusitis and asthma.

The relationship between sinusitis and asthma is unclear. A number of theories have been proposed for a causal or shared association between sinusitis and asthma.

Inflammation and overproduction of mucus in the nasal passages and sinus cavities may eventually affect the airways in the lung, causing them to hyperreact.

Breathing through the mouth when the sinuses are blocked allows in large particles that would other wise be filtered by the nasal defense system. These particles could trigger allergic responses in the lungs that in turn trigger asthma in susceptible people.

Cold air is a known trigger of asthma. When nasal passages which warm air is blocked, air is breathed through the mouth, which is colder.

Sinusitis and asthma may share similar immune abnormalities that cause inflammation in the airways in the lungs and sinuses.

Treatment of both allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis in children who also have asthma may reduce symptoms of asthma.

Asthmatics might not respond to asthma treatments unless the infection is also cleared up. It is important to treat any coexisting bacterial sinusitis in people with asthm.