Treat early sinus infection symptoms with rest, hydration and over-the-counter sprays and decongestants. Then check in with your doctor for a prescription and let him or her know if your condition worsens. Discover how doctors determine whether your sinus infection is viral or bacterial. Learn some practical steps you can take to ease your symptoms. Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles.
Bacterial sinusitis involves inflammation of the mucous membrane lining of the sinuses, and is caused by a bacterial infection. There are four pairs of paranasal sinuses which are located below, above, between and behind the eye sockets — the maxillary sinuses, frontal sinuses, ethmoid sinuses and sphenoidal sinuses.
The maxillary sinuses are the largest of these, and are most often affected by sinusitis. However, sinusitis can affect any or all of the paranasal sinuses. Because sinusitis often occurs along with rhinitis, inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose, it is sometimes known as rhinosinusitis. Bacterial sinusitis often follows a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu.
Viral infections can cause the mucosal lining of the sinuses to swell. Swelling of the mucus membranes in the nose or sinus cavities can block these holes, preventing mucus from draining out of the sinuses. Bacteria colonize the undrained mucus, which can lead to bacterial sinusitis. Bacterial sinusitis may be treated with anti-inflammatory medications, and antibiotics as needed. Most cases of bacterial sinusitis resolve within two weeks, and have no further symptoms.
Viral sinusitis is the most common type of sinusitis. It is usually caused by the same viruses that cause the common cold, and typically lasts for between seven and ten days. Bacterial sinusitis can be grouped into the following subtypes based on the duration of symptoms: [2] [4] [5]. Symptoms of bacterial sinusitis include: [1] [2] [4] [6].
Good to know: Bacterial sinusitis can follow a cold or the flu, and often the symptoms occur just when it seems as if the initial infection is clearing up. In this situation it is common to start to feel better, and then to feel worse as the subsequent bacterial sinusitis develops. If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have bacterial sinusitis, you can do a free symptom assessment using the Ada app at any time.
In children, the symptoms of sinusitis may differ from those in adults. Children may experience: [4] [6]. Good to know: Bacterial sinusitis can affect children of any age, even though the paranasal sinuses are not visible on X-ray before the age of about nine. The condition is caused by bacteria that live in the nose, throat and, sometimes, the mouth. Whether your sinus infection turns out to be viral or bacterial, you can help to ease your symptoms early on with supportive care:.
Use saline spray two to three times per day in each nostril. You may consider an oral decongestant, but these should be avoided if you have a history of hypertension.
You risk possible side effects and increase your chances of developing antibiotic resistance, which can make future infections harder to treat. What to do for chronic sinusitis. Your doctor will exam you and take a history. That will help to identify potential causes, including allergies and chronic post nasal drip. Sometimes, the doctor may swab your nose to collect mucus. Culturing it in a laboratory will reveal which type of bacteria is causing the infection so the right antibiotic can be prescribed.
Treat early sinus infection symptoms with rest, hydration and over-the-counter sprays and decongestants.
Then check in with your doctor for a prescription and let him or her know if your condition worsens. Acute sinusitis acute rhinosinusitis causes the cavities around your nasal passages sinuses to become inflamed and swollen. This interferes with drainage and causes mucus to build up. With acute sinusitis, it might be difficult to breathe through your nose.
The area around your eyes and face might feel swollen, and you might have throbbing facial pain or a headache. Acute sinusitis is mostly caused by the common cold. Unless a bacterial infection develops, most cases resolve within a week to 10 days. In most cases, home remedies are all that's needed to treat acute sinusitis. However, persistent sinusitis can lead to serious infections and other complications.
Sinusitis that lasts more than 12 weeks despite medical treatment is called chronic sinusitis. Drainage of a thick, yellow or greenish discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat postnasal drainage.
With viral sinusitis, a virus infects the lining of your facial and nasal cavities. It is typically caused by a viral upper respiratory infection. A bacterial sinus infection is caused by bacteria infecting the lining of your facial and nasal cavities. It is usually caused by a virus first, with the bacterial infection coming later. This often starts in the nasal cavity before spreading to the sinuses.
Bacterial sinusitis is much less common than viral sinusitis—0. Both bacterial and viral sinusitis share common symptoms, including:. However, the two vary considerably in their durations.
Symptoms unique to bacterial sinusitis include:. The symptoms of viral and especially bacterial sinusitis will last longer, and can linger anywhere from two weeks to over three months in the case of chronic sinusitis.
Differentiating between the two often comes down to the duration and severity of their symptoms. Distinguishing an upper respiratory infection URI from viral sinusitis is challenging. I often see patients who think that antibiotics will solve their symptoms and want to begin a round immediately.
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