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Risk Factors for Sinusitis

by Amy Scholten, MPH

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Risk Factors

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A risk factor is something that raises a person's chances of getting a disease or health problem. A person can have sinusitis with or without the risks below. The more risks a person has, the greater the chances are.

Risk factors for sinusitis are:

Smoking

Smoking and being exposed to secondhand smoke increases the risk of getting sinusitis.

Certain Medical Conditions

Health problems that raise the risk of sinusitis are:

A recent cold
Long term use of decongestant sprays
Nasal blockage due to:
- Polyps
- Deviated septum
- Facial bone abnormalities
- Swollen adenoids
- Cleft palate
- Tumor
Allergies
Asthma
Certain long term illnesses, such as:
- Cystic fibrosis
- Kartagener syndrome (a disorder of the cilia throughout the body)
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- HIV infection
- Diabetes
- Immotile cilia syndrome
Head injury—or other condition requiring a tube inserted in the nose

Gender

Women have a higher risk of chronic sinusitis than men.

Environmental Factors

Possible risks for sinusitis include exposure to:

Secondhand smoke
Air pollution

Activities

Flying and diving both increase the risk of getting sinusitis.

References:

Acute rhinosinusitis in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/acute-rhinosinusitis-in-adults. Accessed November 15, 2021.

Chronic rhinosinusitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/chronic-rhinosinusitis. Accessed November 15, 2021.

Jaume F, Valls-Mateus M, et al. Common cold and acute rhinosinusitis: up-to-date management in 2020. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2020;20(7):28.

Sinusitis. American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery website. Available at: https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/sinusitis/. Accessed November 15, 2021.

Sinusitis overview. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website. Available at: https://www.aaaai.org/Conditions-Treatments/allergies/sinusitis. Accessed November 15, 2021.

Last reviewed November 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board David L. Horn, MD, FACP
Last Updated: 11/17/2021

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