Acoustic rhinometry: A test that uses harmless sound waves inside your nose to measure how open (or blocked) your nasal passages are.
Acute: A term describing a health condition or set of symptoms that starts suddenly and typically lasts for a short time. In the context of rhinosinusitis, “acute” means symptoms have been present for less than 12 weeks.
Allergen: A substance (like pollen, dust mites, or pet dander) that can cause an allergic reaction in certain people.
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever): An allergic reaction in the nose that can make you sneeze, have a runny or stuffy nose, and itchy/watery eyes. Often triggered by pollen, dust mites, or pets.
Anterior: Means “toward the front.” For example, the front part of the nose or sinus passages is referred to as the anterior region.
Anterior rhinoscopy: A quick exam where a doctor looks into the front part of your nose using a special tool (nasal speculum) to check for swelling, irritation, or nasal polyps.
Anterior rhinomanometry: A test measuring how easily air moves through your nose to see if the nasal passages are blocked.
Anti-inflammatory: A term for medicines (like corticosteroids) or actions (like rinsing with salt water) that reduce swelling, redness, or irritation in the body.
Antibiotics: Medicines used to kill or slow down the growth of bacteria. Sometimes prescribed for sinus infections but not always useful in chronic sinus inflammation.
Asthma: A lung condition where the airways become inflamed and narrow, making it hard to breathe. People with CRS often have asthma too.
Autoimmune disorders: Conditions where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, thinking they are harmful.
Biologics: Special medicines given by injection that target specific parts of the immune system to reduce inflammation. Used when other options haven’t worked and after a specialist has made a detailed assessment of your condition.
Cellulitis: A skin infection that causes redness, swelling, warmth, and pain in the affected area. Although rare, a severe sinus infection in CRS can sometimes spread into the tissues around the sinuses or eyes, leading to cellulitis.
Chest symptoms: Issues such as coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, or tightness in the chest—often linked with lung conditions like asthma or COPD.
Chronic: Means something that lasts a long time (often three months or more) or keeps coming back.
Chronic cough: A cough that does not go away and lasts for at least three weeks.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A long-term lung disease (often linked to smoking or polluted air) where airways and tiny air sacs in the lungs are damaged, causing breathing difficulties.
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS): A condition defined by long-lasting inflammation inside the nose and sinuses, causing symptoms like a stuffy nose, runny nose, loss of smell, and facial pain.
Comorbidities: Other conditions or diseases that occur at the same time as the main condition. For example, many people with CRS also have asthma or allergies.
Complication: An unexpected, sometimes serious, problem that arises because of an existing condition or its progression. For example, a severe sinus infection spreading to the eye area could be considered a complication.
CT scan: An imaging test that takes detailed pictures of the inside of your body (in this case, your sinuses) to see how swollen they are or if there are any blockages.
Cystic fibrosis: A genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. It can sometimes lead to more severe forms of sinus disease in children.
Decongestant nasal sprays/drops: Medicines sprayed or dropped into the nose for quick relief of stuffiness. Safe only for short-term use (a few days) due to the risk of “rebound congestion” if overused.
Decongestant pills: Tablets (often containing pseudo-ephedrine) that help shrink swollen tissues in the nose. Used short-term only because the risks generally outweigh the benefits. For some people, it can be unsafe to take these pills.
Diagnosis: The process where a doctor determines what health condition a person has.
Differential diagnosis: A list of possible conditions that could explain a patient’s symptoms. Before confirming CRS, your doctor will consider other conditions that could cause your symptoms.
Endotyping / Phenotyping: Specialist terms for classifying a disease by looking at the exact type of inflammation or cells involved. This helps doctors tailor treatments, like deciding what type of biologics to use.
ENT doctor (Ear-Nose-Throat specialist): A doctor who specialises in conditions affecting the ear, nose, and throat. Also called an otolaryngologist.
Exacerbation: A sudden worsening or flare-up of symptoms. If you understand when you’re having an exacerbation, you can see your doctor sooner and adjust medications if needed.
Facial pain/pressure: An uncomfortable feeling in the face, forehead, or cheeks that can happen when sinuses are inflamed or blocked or due to nasal polyps.
FESS (Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery): A type of sinus surgery where a specialist uses a thin camera (an endoscope) to open and clear the sinuses. It is called “functional” because it aims to restore normal sinus function rather than just remove tissue.
First-line treatments: The initial or standard treatments recommended by medical guidelines. For CRS, these include saline rinses and nasal corticosteroid sprays.
Fungal infection: An infection caused by fungi (like mould). Generally, normal sinuses can handle fungi without trouble, but in certain cases, fungus can worsen sinus issues.
Genetics (Hereditary): Refers to the information passed down from parents to children through genes that can make some people more likely to develop certain conditions.
Hormone changes: Body chemicals (like oestrogen) that can shift during pregnancy or menopause, sometimes affecting conditions like CRS.
House dust mite: Tiny insect-like pests found in household dust that can trigger allergies and make CRS symptoms worse if you are allergic.
Immune system: Your body’s defence against infections and foreign substances. In CRS, this system may overreact, causing ongoing inflammation.
Immune deficiencies: Conditions where the immune system is weaker or does not work properly, leading to more frequent infections.
Immunotherapy: A treatment that may help the body get used to allergens so it reacts less over time. Often given as injections or drops/pills under the tongue.
Inflammation: Swelling or irritation in the body’s tissues, often due to the immune system’s response to infection or irritants. CRS is driven by long-lasting inflammation.
In remission: When a chronic condition is no longer causing significant symptoms.
-itis (suffix): A medical ending that means “inflammation.” Whenever you see “-itis” in a word (like rhinitis or sinusitis), it indicates that the tissue or organ named is swollen or inflamed.
Meningitis: A serious inflammation of the protective layers around the brain and spinal cord. Rarely, a severe sinus infection can spread and cause this.
Mirror test: A quick check in which a small, cold mirror is placed under your nose to see how much air is coming out of each nostril.
Modulate the immune system: To adjust or regulate how strongly your body’s defence system reacts.
Mucosa: A moist, protective lining inside body passages like the nose, sinuses, and mouth. In CRS, this lining becomes inflamed, leading to symptoms like nasal blockage and a runny nose.
Mucus: The slippery fluid produced by your nose and sinuses to trap dirt and germs. When there is too much mucus or when it’s thick, it can cause a runny nose and postnasal drip.
Nasal: Refers to anything related to the nose (for example, “nasal passages,” “nasal spray,” or “nasal lining”).
Nasal corticosteroids (sprays/drops/irrigations): Medicines sprayed or rinsed into the nose to reduce swelling and inflammation. Helps relieve stuffiness over time and is safe for long-term use if used as directed.
Nasal endoscopy: A procedure where a thin tube with a camera is gently inserted into the nose to see deep inside the nasal passages and sinuses.
Nasal polyps: Soft growths in the nose or sinuses due to inflammation that look like small grapes. They can block airflow and reduce your sense of smell.
Nasal Polyp Syndrome (CRSwNP): A type of chronic rhinosinusitis where patients have nasal polyps, leading to issues like blocked nose, loss of smell, facial pressure, and/or frequent sinus infections.
Nasal septum deviation: When the thin wall between the nostrils (the septum) is crooked or off-centre. A severe deviation of the septum can lead to a blocked nasal passage and may worsen sinus problems.
Nasal speculum: A small instrument used to gently open the nostrils so a doctor can look inside the nose.
N-ERD (NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease): A condition in which painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen make respiratory symptoms (nasal or asthma) worse. Also called Samter’s triad.
Neurologist: A specialist doctor who diagnoses and treats diseases of the brain, nerves, and spinal cord.
NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs): Medications like ibuprofen or aspirin that reduce pain, fever, and inflammation but can trigger attacks in people with N-ERD.
Olfactory: Related to the sense of smell. The olfactory area is located high inside the nose where special cells detect scents.
Oral: Relating to the mouth. For instance, “oral medications” are taken by mouth.
Osteomyelitis: An infection in a bone. Rarely, a sinus infection can spread into the bone around the face or skull.
Pen (prefilled) or Syringe (prefilled): Devices used to inject biologic medicines. Prefilled means the correct dose is already in the device, ready to use.
Phenotyping: (See Endotyping) Another way of classifying disease based on how the condition appears or behaves—helps personalise treatment choices.
PNIF (Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow): A simple measurement of how fast you can breathe in through your nose. It helps evaluate how blocked your nasal passages are.
Polypectomy: Surgical removal of polyps in the nose or sinuses.
Postnasal drip: When extra mucus made in the nose or sinuses flows down the back of your throat, often making you feel you have to swallow surplus mucus.
Pseudo-ephedrine: A decongestant medicine that helps shrink swollen tissues in the nose to temporarily relieve stuffiness. It can provide short-term relief from a blocked nose but must be used carefully due to possible side effects and is not recommended in general.
Pulmonologist: A doctor who specialises in lung conditions like asthma or COPD.
Rebound congestion: When your nose becomes even more stuffy after stopping decongestant sprays used for too long. It creates a cycle of dependence on nasal sprays.
Recurrent (Relapse): The condition or its symptoms come back repeatedly or flare up over time.
Red-flag symptoms: Severe signs (like sudden vision problems, intense facial pain, or confusion) that mean you should see a doctor immediately.
Refractory: A condition that does not improve or respond to the usual or standard treatments. When a condition (like CRS) is called "refractory," it may require more specialised or advanced treatment options (such as surgery or biologics) because first-line therapies (like nasal sprays or rinses) are not enough to control the symptoms.
Rhinitis: Inflammation of the inside lining of the nose, often causing sneezing, itchiness, or runny nose.
Rhino: A prefix meaning “nose.” For example, “rhinitis” means inflammation inside the nose, and “rhinosinusitis” means inflammation involving both the nose and sinuses.
Rhinosinusitis: Inflammation that affects both the nose (rhino) and the sinuses (sinusitis). Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is when this lasts more than 12 weeks. When symptoms have been present for less than 12 weeks, it’s called acute rhinosinusitis. This is often triggered by a viral infection (like the common cold) or sometimes by bacteria.
Saline solution (salt water): A simple mix of water and salt used to rinse the nose. Helps clear mucus and relieve irritation.
Samter’s triad: Another name for N-ERD where asthma, nasal polyps, and sensitivity to aspirin or similar painkillers occur together.
Self-limiting: A term describing an illness (like a typical cold) that gets better on its own, without special medical treatment.
Sinuses: Air-filled spaces in your face (behind the nose, cheeks, and forehead) that help filter, warm, and moisten the air you breathe. They also affect how your voice sounds.
Skin prick test: A quick test for allergies. A doctor or nurse pricks your skin with a tiny amount of allergen to see if you react.
Sniffin’ Sticks: A test tool with different smells to check how well a person can identify scents.
SNOT-22: A validated questionnaire where patients rate their sinus and nasal symptoms to help track how they feel and how treatments are working.
Specialist: A doctor with advanced training in a certain area, like ENT (ear-nose-throat), lung (pulmonology), or allergy (allergology).
Topical: A medicine or treatment applied directly to a certain area of the body, such as inside the nose or on the skin.
Triggers: Things that worsen your symptoms or cause flare-ups, like cigarette smoke, pollution, or certain allergens.
Turbinates: Normal structures inside the nose that warm and humidify the air you breathe. They can become enlarged causing a blocked nose, but are different from nasal polyps.
Workplace irritants: Dust, chemicals, fumes, or other substances at work (or hobbies) that can irritate your nose and airways, leading to inflammation and worsened CRS symptoms.
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