Ethmoiditis is an infection or inflammation of the ethmoidal cells in the sinuses. These are the air-filled spaces behind the nose and between the eyes.
Ethmoiditis is a type of sinusitis.
Causes
Bacteria cause most ethmoid sinus infections. Some types of fungus and viruses can also be involved.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually include:
- Headache between the eyes
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Loss of sense of smell
Symptoms of more serious infections can include:
- Vision loss
- Double vision
- Redness or bulging of the eyes
Images
References
Benninger MS, Roxbury CR, Stokken JK. Acute rhinosinusitis: pathogenesis, treatment, and complications. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 40.
DeMuri GP, Wald ER. Sinusitis. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 62.
Review Date 8/31/2021
Updated by: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.