What Are Sinus Infections?
Sinus infections, also known as sinusitis, are a common condition that develops when the tissues lining the sinuses become swollen or inflamed. The sinuses are hollow spaces inside the face around the nose, cheeks, and forehead. Under normal conditions, they contain air and produce mucus that drains through the nose. When swelling blocks that drainage, mucus can build up and create pressure, congestion, and discomfort. If you have facial pressure, a stuffy nose, or symptoms that seem to linger after a cold, read on to learn more about what may be happening.
What Causes a Sinus Infection?
Sinus infections can be caused by multiple things. Viruses cause many sinus infections, especially after a common cold. The swelling that comes with a viral illness can block the small passages that allow the sinuses to drain. Bacteria can also cause sinusitis. Sometimes a bacterial infection develops after a viral infection has already irritated and blocked the sinuses. Allergies may contribute as well because they can cause ongoing swelling inside the nose.
What Does a Sinus Infection Feel Like?
Sinus symptoms can look like a cold, allergies, or another respiratory illness, which can make it hard to know the cause without looking at how long the symptoms last and how they change. Symptoms can vary in both type and degree, but congestion and facial pressure are common. The pressure may feel strongest around the cheeks, nose, eyes, or forehead. Another common symptom is thick nasal drainage or mucus moving down the back of the throat. Headaches, cough, bad breath, tiredness, or pressure in the teeth and ears can also occur. In more severe cases, a fever may develop.
Are There Different Types of Sinusitis?
Doctors often describe sinusitis based on how long it lasts. The most common types are:
- Acute sinusitis: Acute sinusitis lasts less than four weeks and commonly follows a viral infection.
- Subacute sinusitis: Subacute sinusitis continues for four to twelve weeks.
- Chronic sinusitis: Chronic sinusitis lasts at least twelve weeks.
- Recurrent sinusitis: Recurrent sinusitis refers to repeated short episodes that return several times during the year.
The length and pattern of symptoms help a healthcare provider decide what may be causing the problem and whether additional treatment or testing is necessary.
How Are Sinus Infections Treated?
Many sinus infections improve on their own. Rest, fluids, saline rinses, and certain over-the-counter medications may help relieve symptoms while the sinuses recover. Antibiotics do not treat viral sinus infections. A healthcare provider may consider them when symptoms suggest a bacterial cause, especially when symptoms last longer than expected or improve and then become worse again.
Chronic or repeated sinus problems may require treatment for allergies, nasal swelling, polyps, or other underlying causes.
Know When to Get Medical Help
Understanding the cause of your symptoms can help you choose the right treatment and avoid medications you may not need. Most sinus infections clear without serious problems, but symptoms that continue, worsen, or keep returning deserve medical attention. Contact a healthcare provider if you are not improving or if you frequently develop sinus infections. Seek urgent care for severe symptoms such as confusion, vision changes, a very high fever, swelling around the eyes, seizures, or a stiff neck.
Related Article: What Happens During a Sinus Infection?