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Chronic Sinusitis Treatment in Gangnam, Seoul

Medically reviewed by Dr. Kim Yoo Suk, MD · Board-certified otolaryngologist · Former professor, Yonsei & Ajou University · Consultations in English

What is chronic sinusitis?

Chronic sinusitis, more precisely chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), is persistent inflammation of the nasal and paranasal sinus lining for at least 12 weeks. The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the facial bones that drain through narrow openings into the nose. When the lining swells, drainage is blocked, mucus stagnates and inflammation becomes self-sustaining.

CRS is grouped into forms with and without nasal polyps, which affects treatment choices.

Symptoms

Diagnosis requires at least two of the following, one of which must be blockage or discharge:

• Nasal blockage or congestion
• Thick nasal discharge, from the front or down the throat
• Facial pain or pressure
• Reduced or lost sense of smell

Many patients also notice bad breath, cough, ear fullness and fatigue.

Causes

CRS is multifactorial. Contributors include allergy, asthma, anatomical narrowing such as a deviated septum, dental infection spreading to the maxillary sinus, and in some cases fungal involvement. Smoking and air pollution worsen mucosal inflammation. Repeated acute sinusitis episodes can also progress to a chronic state.

How it is diagnosed at our Gangnam clinic

Symptoms alone cannot confirm CRS. Dr. Kim looks for objective evidence with nasal endoscopy, checking for pus, swelling or polyps at the sinus drainage pathways. A sinus CT scan shows the extent of disease in each sinus and the anatomy relevant to surgery. Allergy testing or a smell test may be added where they will change management.

Dr. Kim co-authored a 2015 BMJ Open paper on the symptom-based diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis, so he is attentive to the gap between how patients feel and what the sinuses show.

Treatment options

Medical therapy

• High-volume saline irrigation to clear mucus
• Intranasal corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
• Short courses of oral steroids for selected patients, especially with polyps
• Antibiotics when there is evidence of bacterial infection
• Treatment of allergy or reflux if present

Surgery when needed

If symptoms and CT findings persist after appropriate medical therapy, endoscopic sinus surgery opens the blocked drainage pathways through the nostrils, without external cuts. At our clinic it is done under local anesthesia: about 30 minutes for one side and about one hour for both, with absorbable packing for one day and same-day discharge for most patients.

When to see an ENT

See an ENT if nasal symptoms have lasted more than three months or keep returning. Seek urgent care for swelling or redness around the eye, double vision, reduced vision, severe headache, neck stiffness or confusion, as these can signal a spreading infection.

Seeing Dr. Kim in English

Dr. Kim Yoo Suk trained in endoscopic sinus surgery at Jikei University in Japan and in endoscopic skull base surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and later taught rhinology at Ajou University. He explains CT findings in English and only recommends surgery when medication has not been enough. Read our international patient guide before visiting.

Frequently asked questions

How long does chronic sinusitis treatment take?

Medical therapy is usually assessed after several weeks of consistent use of rinses and sprays. Many patients need ongoing maintenance treatment. If surgery is done, crusting settles over two to three weeks, with weekly follow-up visits for cleaning during that period.

Do antibiotics cure chronic sinusitis?

Not usually on their own. Chronic sinusitis is mainly an inflammatory condition, so steroid sprays and saline irrigation are the foundation. Antibiotics help when there is a clear bacterial flare, and Dr. Kim prescribes them selectively rather than routinely.

Will sinus surgery change the shape of my nose?

No. Endoscopic sinus surgery is performed entirely inside the nose through the nostrils using a camera, so there are no external incisions and the outer shape of the nose is not altered.

This page is general medical information written and reviewed by an ENT specialist. It is not a diagnosis. Symptoms differ between people — please see a doctor for an examination. In an emergency in Korea, call 119.