Korean J Phys Anthropol.  2014 Mar;27(1):11-28. 10.11637/kjpa.2014.27.1.11.

Maxillary Sinusitis from India: A Bio-cultural Approach

• Mushrif-Tripathy V

• KMID: 1702841
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11637/kjpa.2014.27.1.11

Abstract

This paper identifies the presence and etiology of maxillary sinusitis in archaeological populations from protohistoric (1500 B.C.) and medieval (around 17th century) India. 339 human skeleton remains found at the archaeological sites of Chalcolithic Nevasa (1500~600 B.C.), Inamgaon (1000~700 B.C.), Balathal (2000 B.C.), Megalithic Kodumanal (400 B.C.~100 A.D.), Early Historic Navdatoli (200 B.C.), Kodumanal (100~300 A.D.) and Jotsoma (17th c A.D.) were studied. Macroscopic physical examination revealed that 9 individuals out of 74 observable individuals (12.16%) suffered from inflammation. Of this, 6 were male while 3 were female. Considering the ethnographic aspects, the study reveals that inflammation possibly caused by inhaling polluted air for a long duration or because of dental disease. Also, apart from pollution in domestic zones, external pollution because of vocation is also discussed in this study using relevant ethnographic parallels.

Keyword

India; Sinus; Indoor pollution; Occupational; Ethnoarchaeology; Leprosy

MeSH Terms

Female
Humans
India*
Inflammation
Inhalation
Leprosy
Male
Maxillary Sinus*
Maxillary Sinusitis*
Occupations
Physical Examination
Skeleton
Stomatognathic Diseases

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Location of sinuses in skull.

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  Fig. 2. Approximate location of sites mentioned in the text.

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  Fig. 3. Line drawing of house cluster from Chalcolithic site Inamgaon(H-House, S-Silo, FP-Fire pit, B-burial, PL-Platform for bin).

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  Fig. 4. Nevasa VM 71:(Female, 18∼20 years), Cyst formation on L maxilla floor.

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  Fig. 5. Nevasa VM 73:(Male, 30∼35 years), Cyst formation on L maxilla floor.

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  Fig. 6. Kodumanal, Trench ZJ 26, Spe. II:(Male, Around 20 years), Lobules bone changes on R maxilla floor.

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  Fig. 7. Balathal 1997–1:(Male, around 50 years), Spicules on L maxilla.

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  Fig. 8. Jotsoma VI:(Male, Around 45 years), penetrating lesion on L maxillary floor.

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  Fig. 9. Smoke inhalation in indoor and outdoor cooking by ladies.

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  Fig. 10. Exposure to polluted air and particles due to different occupations.

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  Fig. 11. Bone changes due to habitual/occupational stress on Kodumanal male individual ZJ 26, Spe. II.

Reference

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