What Is a Sinus Infection (Sinusitis) and What Are the Symptoms?

 

• How can sinus infections occur?

A sinus infection, often referred to as sinusitis or rhinosinusitis in medicine, is when the nasal cavities become infected, swollen, and inflamed. A sinus infection can develop as a result of fluid buildup in the sinuses, which encourages the growth of bacteria.

The typical cause of sinusitis is a virus, and it frequently persists even after other upper respiratory symptoms have subsided. A sinus infection can occasionally be brought on by bacteria or, less frequently, fungus.

Sinus pain and symptoms can also be caused by other illnesses such allergies, nasal polyps, and tooth infections.

• sinus infection types: acute versus chronic

Sinus infections come in four different flavors. These categories are determined by the duration and recurrence of the infection:

chronic sinusitis The American Academy of Otolaryngology defines this form of sinus infection as lasting fewer than four weeks. This transient infection frequently coexists with a cold or another respiratory condition. A bacterial infection may potentially be the reason for it (acute bacterial sinusitis).

chronic sinusitis A subacute sinus infection can linger for four to twelve weeks. dependable source

acute sinusitis that recurs. If an acute sinus infection returns four or more times within a year and lasts for seven days or more each time, it is deemed recurrent.

persistent sinusitis Chronic sinus infections are those that last longer than 12 weeks or keep returning.

• sinus infection signs and symptoms

The signs of sinusitis can resemble cold symptoms. The following are the key indicators of viral sinusitis:

face pressure or pain

foul-smelling nasal discharge

nasal obstruction

These symptoms either persist for at least 10 days without getting better or get worse within 10 days of appearing to get better in cases of acute bacterial sinus infections. To receive a diagnosis and treatment plan in this situation, it's crucial to speak with a doctor, such as a general practitioner or an ENT.

Find out more about sinus infection signs below.

• nasal pressure or discomfort

The most typical symptom of sinusitis is facial pain. Above, below, and behind your nose, you have a variety of distinct sinuses. When you have a sinus infection, it can pain in any of these air-filled chambers.

Your sinuses may pain and feel somewhat pressured due to swelling and inflammation. This is due to inflammation's potential to change mucus' normal flow from the nose to the back of the throat.

Pain could be felt in:

your upper jaw, teeth, and the area between your eyes on either side of your nose.

The result could be a headache. Sinus infections can produce headaches where the sinuses are or in other locations.

• sensitivity on the face

The pressure that has been accumulated may also make your face sensitive to touch. This typically appears under the eyes or at the bridge of the nose, although it can also affect the forehead and cheeks.

• nasal congestion and postnasal drip

Because of nasal discharge, which can be murky, green, or yellow when you have a sinus infection, you might need to wipe your nose frequently. This fluid seeps into your nasal passages from your diseased sinuses.

It's also possible for the fluid to escape your nose and go into your throat. You could experience tickling, itching, or even a sore throat.

Postnasal drip is what this is, and it can make you cough while you're lying down to sleep at night or right after you get up in the morning. Your voice could also sound hoarse as a result of it.

• A blocked nose

Your ability to breathe via your nose may be compromised by swollen sinuses. Your nasal passages and sinuses will enlarge as a result of the illness, which may make you feel "blocked."

You won't likely be able to taste or smell as well as usual due to the nasal congestion. Also, you can have a "stuffy" voice.

• pain in the sinuses

You may get headache symptoms if there is constant pressure and swelling in your sinuses. Earaches, tooth, jaw, and cheek pain are additional symptoms of sinus pain.

Due to fluids building up all night, sinus headaches can get worse in the morning. When the barometric pressure in your immediate area changes abruptly or when you adjust the position of your head, your headache may also get worse.

• Cough and throat irritation

It can irritate you when sinus drainage runs down the back of your throat, especially if it happens frequently. This might cause a cough that is persistent and bothersome, which may be worse while you are lying down to sleep or right after you get out of bed in the morning.

It may also be difficult to fall asleep. The frequency and severity of your coughing can be decreased by sleeping on your side or with your head up.

• Throat pain and hoarseness

Having postnasal drip can cause a sore and scratchy throat. Even while it could begin as a bothersome tickle, it could develop worse.

Mucus can irritate and inflame your throat as it drips if your infection persists for a few weeks or more, leading to a painful sore throat and raspy voice. Frequently cleaning your throat and coughing might exacerbate hoarseness.

• Fever

Fever is a common side effect of many illnesses, including sinusitis, but it is not always present.

A fever brought on by this kind of sickness normally ranges from 100.4 to 103°F (38 to 39.4°C), which is known as a low grade fever. Fever is a symptom that the body is battling a virus, bacterial illness, or fungal infection.

• poor breath (halitosis)

Your infected sinuses can create mucus, and that mucus can leak down your neck and into your mouth. A lot of water consumption, frequent mouth washing, sinus rinses, or tongue brushing may all assist to lessen this feeling. 

• taking care of sinus infections

over-the-counter drugs

In the short term, using a nasal decongestant spray like oxymetazoline can help reduce sinus infection symptoms. However, you should only utilize it for three days at a time.

A rebound effect in nasal congestion can result from prolonged use. Remember that using nasal spray for a longer period of time can worsen your symptoms if you have a sinus infection.

A steroid nasal spray, such as fluticasone (Flonase), triamcinolone, or mometasone, may occasionally be able to relieve the symptoms of nasal congestion without running the risk of rebound symptoms with continued use. Currently, nasal sprays containing fluticasone and triamcinolone are sold without a prescription.

In particular, if you also experience allergies, other over-the-counter drugs that contain antihistamines and decongestants can assist with sinus infections. These types of drugs are widely used and include:

Cetirizine (Zyrtec) with fexofenadine in Sudafed (Allegra)

loratadine (Claritin) (Claritin)

Decongestants are generally not advised for those who have:

problems with prostate enlargement

glaucoma problems sleeping

Before taking any of these drugs, consult your doctor to be sure they are the right decision for your unique circumstance.

• Nasal spraying

Using sterile water or a nasal solution to flush out your nostrils is known as nasal irrigation. The effectiveness of nasal irrigation in treating postnasal drip, allergic rhinitis, and chronic rhinosinusitis has been demonstrated by a 2009 reviewTrusted Source. Those who have acute sinusitis may also benefit from nasal irrigation.

Doctors advise utilizing a water filter system or boiling tap water and letting it cool down if you must use it. Purchase of distilled water or the use of over-the-counter premixed solutions are further choices.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, drinking unfiltered tap water instead of sterile water can result in a deadly infection.

Nasal solutions can also be created at home by combining 1 cup of pre-prepared, sterile, warm water with 1/2 teaspoon each of baking soda and table salt.

Use a nasal sprayer to spray the mixture into your nose, or use a Neti pot or other sinus rinser to pour it into your nose.

Before manufacturing your own nasal spray, see a doctor. It's possible that the solution could irritate your nose if it's combined improperly.

This saline and baking soda solution can reduce dryness, eliminate irritants, and cleanse your sinuses of discharge.

• herbal remedies

Herbal remedies for sinusitis are widely utilized in Europe.

Acute and chronic sinusitis can both be treated with some herbal remedies, according to several studiesTrusted Source (such as a 2013 study of persons with acute bronchitis and a 2017 study of children with acute sinusitis). These therapies include Sinupret, an oral herb mixture, and GeloMyrtol forte, an oral capsule of essential oils (marketed as Myrtol 300 in the US).

In order to compare these herbal concoctions to other forms of treatment, more research is required. A doctor can advise you on the best course of treatment if you're thinking about using herbal therapies.

Self-mixing of these herbs is not advised. Each herb has unforeseen side effects that can include allergic reactions or diarrhea when used too little or too much.

• Antibiotics

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic used to treat acute sinusitis brought on by bacterial infections when such infections have not responded to other treatments including nasal steroid sprays, painkillers, sinus rinses, or irrigation.

"Watchful waiting," which entails monitoring a sinus infection to identify its etiology before giving antibiotics, is a technique that a doctor may utilize before writing a prescription. Only bacterial sinus infections can be treated with antibiotics.

If a bacterial sinus infection lasts 10 days or longer without getting better, or if symptoms appear to get better but return within 10 days, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

Before attempting to take medications for sinusitis, consult a doctor.

The following side effects could occur if you take antibiotics for sinusitis:

dermatitis, diarrhea, and stomach problems

Superbugs, or bacteria resistant to antibiotics that cause serious infections and are difficult to treat, are another result of the excessive and inappropriate use of antibioticsTrusted Source.

• Additional treatments for symptom alleviation

In order to reduce congestion, staying hydrated can assist thin mucus.

Drinking hot liquids, such tea and broth, may help you feel better. It may also be a relief to breathe in wet air to lessen the discomfort associated with nasal congestion. Try inhaling steam from a hot bowl of water, a shower, or a mug of tea.

If your voice is hoarse, refrain from shouting, whispering, and singing to rest it.

Applying a warm compress helps relieve pressure and soothe the irritated area.

• Is it possible to avoid or prevent sinus infections?

You can lessen your risk of getting sinusitis by avoiding things that irritate your nose and sinuses. You may be more susceptible to this kind of infection if you smoke cigarettes. The natural defenses in your nose, mouth, throat, and respiratory system are harmed by smoking.

If you smoke, think about giving it up. If you want to stop smoking or need assistance, speak with a doctor. Quitting could aid in preventing both chronic and acute sinusitis problems in the future.

Wash your hands frequently to prevent viruses or bacteria on your hands from irritating or infecting your sinuses, especially during cold and flu season.

In the cooler, drier months, using a humidifier may also help avoid sinus infections.

Ask your doctor if allergies are the root of your sinusitis. You'll probably need to address your allergies in order to get rid of your sinus infection if you have allergies to something that keeps giving you persistent sinus symptoms.

To identify the allergy's root cause, you might need to consult an allergy specialist. The expert might advise:

keeping the allergy at bay

using oral drugs, such as antihistamines

carrying out allergy immunotherapy

Keeping your allergies under control can help you avoid getting sinusitis on a regular basis.

Your symptoms could potentially be coming from another illness. For instance, sinus infections can be brought on by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Adenoids that are larger in children and adolescents may potentially be a contributing factor. Getting a diagnosis from a general practitioner, pediatrician, or ENT should be the initial step.

• Risks of untreated sinus infections

After around 10 days, sinus infections frequently start to heal on their own. A doctor might need to treat the infection's underlying cause if your symptoms persist for a longer period of time without getting better or if they get worse.

If neglected, a sinus infection that affects a sinus cavity near the brain may spread there. Even though it is uncommon, an infection can enter the eye socket and result in vision abnormalities or blindness. Children are more likely to develop this kind of infection.

Even though it's rare, a severe fungal sinus infection that goes untreated can spread to the bones.

• When should I get a sinusitis checkup?

Schedule a visit with a doctor if you experience severe symptoms, or if any of the following symptoms persist for more than 10 days or are recurrent:

fever, nasal congestion, and facial pain

It's crucial to visit a doctor for a diagnosis because the reason of your sinus infection may alter your treatment options. If you're looking for a doctor, the Healthline FindCare feature might offer possibilities in your neighborhood.

Consider requesting a referral to an otolaryngologist, often known as an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, if you think you have chronic or recurrent sinusitis. To identify the source of your symptoms, you might require imaging and other procedures.

To learn more about the origin of an illness, an ENT expert may collect a culture of the discharge from the nose. The ENT expert can also perform a more thorough examination of the sinuses and search for any structural issues with the nasal passages that might cause persistent sinus issues.

Although it is not typical, a fever can occur with either acute or chronic sinusitis. Your recurring infections could be caused by an underlying illness, in which case you could require specialized care.

• Your chronic infections might be brought on by:

Deviated septum and nasal polyps

allergies and other health issues

Your doctor may attempt to identify the underlying cause of your sinus infection and provide possible treatments.

If you see any indications of a more serious infection, including but not limited to:

a temperature of exceeding 103°F (39.4°C)

confusion

stiff neck, altered vision, and other severe or worrisome symptoms

• kids with sinus infections

Children frequently experience allergies and are susceptible to ear and nose infections.

If your child exhibits any of the following signs, they may have a sinus infection:

a cold that lasts more than seven days and includes a fever, swollen eyes, thick, colorful postnasal drip, coughing, nausea, or vomiting, headaches, and earaches

To find out the best course of treatment for your child, consult with their doctor. Treatments for acute sinusitis include pain relievers, saline sprays, and nasal sprays.

If your child is under 2 years old, do not give them over-the-counter decongestants, cough syrups, or cold medications.

Without using antibiotics, the majority of kids will fully recover from a sinus infection. When a child has severe sinusitis or other issues as a result of their sinusitis, antibiotics are used.

Your doctor could suggest that your child see an ENT specialist if they don't react to treatment or if they develop chronic sinusitis.

• Outlook for a sinus infection and recovery

With the right treatment and medicine, acute sinusitis often resolves in 1 to 2 weeks. In order to address the root of the recurrent infections, chronic sinusitis is more severe and may necessitate consulting a specialist or receiving long-term treatment.

Chronic sinusitis episodes might linger for more than a month.

dependable source The duration of the infection can be shortened by maintaining proper hygiene, keeping your sinuses moist and clear, and addressing symptoms as soon as they arise.

There are numerous acute and chronic conditions treatments and procedures available. Seeing a doctor or expert after these illnesses can significantly improve your perspective, even if you endure numerous acute episodes or chronic sinusitis.