What are the symptoms of a sinus infection?

29
Oct

By The Harley Stre…

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Sinusitis affects the nasal cavities and is also known as rhinosinusitis. Although it can have a number of different causes the most common is a virus. Other causes include bacteria or even a fungus. Sinus pain can also be triggered by issues such as a tooth infection or allergies but this isn’t actually sinusitis. Suffering from sinusitis can be a short-term problem – acute sinusitis usually lasts for under a month. However, some people can suffer from chronic sinusitis which can take more than 12 weeks to resolve. Whether your sinusitis is acute or chronic there are some key symptoms to look out for.

• Facial pain. Specifically, this pain is located in the areas where your sinuses are – behind your nose as well as above and below your eyes. This pain is the result of swelling in your sinuses and you may feel it across your forehead, around your eyes as well as in your jaw.
• A runny nose. Nasal discharge is another common symptom of a sinus infection although it can vary from person to person. You may find that you have cloudy green or yellow nasal discharge. This discharge is the result of your sinuses draining – you may find that you need to blow or nose more often or that you can feel it dripping down the back of your throat.
• A cough. Especially if you have chronic sinusitis you may find that you experience irritation as the discharge from your sinuses drips down your throat. This irritation can result in a cough that can also make it difficult for you to sleep. Usually, sleeping slightly upright or with your head elevated can help to reduce the amount that you cough and improve quality of sleep.
• Problems with your throat. As well as a cough, the impact of nasal discharge dripping down the back of your throat can also make it feel sore. You may have a hoarse voice and a lot of pain as a result of the irritation being caused by the postnasal drip.
• Breathing difficulties. In particular, sinusitis usually makes it difficult to breathe through your nose. Your sinuses and nasal passages can become inflamed and you may also be suffering from congestion. This can mean that you find it difficult to breathe through your nose and also to taste or smell.
• A headache – or pain in your ears, jaw, teeth and cheeks. Symptoms such as headache or earache are common with sinusitis because of the swelling and pressure that it causes. In particular you may find that this kind of discomfort is at its worst first thing in the morning when the fluids in your sinuses have been pooling during the night.

Sinusitis is usually caused by a virus and can clear up on its own but there are exceptions to this. Especially if you have a fever or facial pain that lasts for more than 10 days you may need to seek medical help as there may be another underlying condition that is also contributing to how you feel.

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Sinusitis | Ear, Nose, and Throat

Sinusitis, also called a sinus infection, is a condition that causes headaches and sinus pressure. Sinusitis is caused by swelling or inflammation in the lining of the sinuses and nose. Several remedies can help relieve symptoms.

Sinusitis, also called a sinus infection, is a condition that causes headaches and sinus pressure. Sinusitis is caused by swelling or inflammation in the lining of the sinuses and nose. The sinuses are hollow air spaces in your facial bones, near the nose. They produce mucus, which helps line the nose and prevent dust and other particles from entering your lungs.

Although uncommon, untreated sinusitis can develop serious medical complications, including meningitis and brain abscess. It is important to see your doctor if your sinusitis lasts longer than 9 days and is unresponsive to over-the-counter medicine. 

Symptoms of sinusitis include:

• Sinus pressure
• Headache
• Facial pain or pressure
• Nasal blockage or congestion (“stuffed up” nose)
• >Loss of sense of smell
• Cough or congestion
• Runny nose
• Ear pain
• Teeth pain

Sometimes sinusitis is caused by bacteria. Additional symptoms of bacteria-caused sinusitis include:

• Pus-like nasal discharge
• Symptoms that last longer than a week
• Symptoms that do not get better with the use of over-the-counter medicines

You should make an appointment to see your doctor if:

• You have a fever higher than 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius) and experience purulent (PYOO-roo-lent) (pus-filled) nasal discharge and/or facial pain for greater than three days.
• Nasal discharge and/or daytime cough have lasted longer than nine days, or if your symptoms seem to be worsening.
• If you seem to be developing additional symptoms, for example, you started with a cough, but now have a cough, and/or headache, and/or fever.
• If you have the symptoms of sinusitis and recently had an upper respiratory infection that lasted greater than six days.  

Common causes of sinusitis include:

• The virus that causes the common cold
• Allergies
• Deviated septum
• Nasal polyps
• Other particle-related sinus irritation, such as exposure to dust or smoke
• Bacteria
• Fungus (extremely rare, but very serious medical emergency)

Although the causes of a sinus infection may be contagious, most people do not spread sinusitis from one person to another.

Typically, your doctor will perform a physical exam and review your medical history to determine if you have a sinus infection.

Once your doctor has determined that you have sinusitis, they may try to find out if your sinusitis is acute, subacute, chronic, or recurrent. Knowing your type of sinusitis will help your doctor figure out how to best treat it.

Your doctor will also determine if your sinusitis is bacterial or not because this will also affect the prescribed treatment.

In rare cases, sinusitis may be caused by a fungus. When this happens, it is a very serious medical emergency. Your doctor will help you determine if your sinusitis is caused by a fungus and, if so, also help you decide the best course of action for treatment.

If you have a minor sinus infection, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain killer and a nasal wash to help ease your symptoms. Over-the-counter decongestants, cough medications, antihistamines, or nasal sprays may help treat symptoms of sinusitis. Please talk to your doctor about whether or not you should use these as part of your treatment. 

If your sinus infection appears to be caused by bacteria, your doctor may give you a round of antibiotics, which you will need to take for the next 10 to 14 days. It is important take all of your antibiotics, even if you start to feel better before you finish all of them.

At-home treatments to alleviate the nose and sinus pain also include:

• Placing a warm compress, such as a warm washcloth, over the eyes
• Nasal irrigation, such as a neti (NEH-tee) pot, to help drain the sinuses
• Using an at-home vaporizer or humidifier

Many times, sinusitis is caused by another medical condition, such as a cold or allergies. In order to prevent sinusitis, you need to treat these conditions as soon as possible. Quick treatment can help prevent a bacterial infection from growing in the sinuses and prevent sinusitis.

Also, the same things that help to prevent a cold can also help prevent sinusitis.