Your maxillary sinuses are two empty cavities in your skull, found on either side of your nose beneath your cheeks, between your eyes and mouth. Sometimes called chronic sinusitis, maxillary sinus disease occurs when the tissue in these sinuses become inflamed.

Causes

Maxillary sinus disease sometimes occurs due to immune system responses like seasonal or environmental allergies, reports the Mayo Clinic. Other causes include tumors or polyps in your nasal passages, a deviated septum, trauma to your face, colds and other respiratory infections and blockage of your sinuses caused by medical conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease, HIV or cystic fibrosis.

Symptoms

In adults, maxillary sinus disease causes bad breath, loss of smell, cough that worsens at night, fatigue, fever, pressure headaches in the front of your face, toothaches, facial tenderness, nasal congestion and throat soreness, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Time Frame

Doctors define maxillary sinus disease or chronic sinusitis once symptoms continue for more than eight to 12 weeks, according to the Merck Medical Manual.

Diagnosis

To diagnose maxillary sinus disease, doctors rely upon diagnostic imaging through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT scans). Endoscopes, or thin tubes mounted with lights, allow doctors to look into your sinuses.

Treatment

Medicinal treatments used to treat maxillary sinus disease include saline spray, nasal corticosteroids like fluticasone, oral corticosteroids like prednisone, decongestants like phenylephrine and antibiotics like amoxicillin. In some cases allergy injections, known as immunotherapy, or surgery may be necessary.

Source:

Merck: Sinusitis

Mayo Clinic: Chronic Sinusitis

U.S. National Library of Medicine: Sinusitis