Sinus Infection (Sinusitis)
Medically reviewed by [Clinician name, credentials] on [date]
A sinus infection can make your whole face feel heavy and your head foggy. The good news is that most sinus infections get better on their own, and many don't need antibiotics. Here's how to feel better, and how to know when it's time to get checked.
This page is for general education. It isn't a diagnosis and doesn't replace a visit with a clinician.
What is a sinus infection?
Your sinuses are air-filled spaces behind your forehead, cheeks, nose, and eyes. When the lining swells, mucus can't drain well. Fluid builds up, and germs can grow.
The CDC says viruses cause most sinus infections, though bacteria cause some. A sinus infection often starts after a cold. Seasonal allergies, smoking or secondhand smoke, nasal polyps, and a weakened immune system can raise your risk.
MedlinePlus describes three types:
- Acute: lasts up to 4 weeks
- Subacute: 1 to 3 months
- Chronic: more than 3 months
Common symptoms
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Pain or pressure in your face, around the eyes, or in your upper teeth
- Headache
- Mucus dripping down the back of your throat (post-nasal drip)
- Sore throat and cough, often worse at night
- Bad breath or less sense of smell
- Feeling tired and run down
- Sometimes a fever
Green or yellow mucus does not automatically mean you need antibiotics. MedlinePlus notes that many people with this symptom get better without them.
When telehealth works — and when you need in-person care
Telehealth often works well for:
- Talking through your symptoms and how long you've had them
- Deciding together whether antibiotics are likely to help
- Home-care tips and over-the-counter options that fit your health history (for example, some decongestants may not be right if you have high blood pressure)
- Follow-up if you're not improving
You may need in-person care if:
- You have swelling or redness around your eyes
- Your symptoms keep coming back or last more than 12 weeks
- Your clinician needs to look in your nose or order imaging
- You may need a referral to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) or allergy specialist
How Oceanside Health can help
- Video visits to sort out a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection, which can look alike.
- Honest advice about antibiotics. The CDC says antibiotics aren't needed for many sinus infections, and they can cause side effects like rashes, allergic reactions, and C. diff diarrhea. When they're not needed, they won't help you.
- Watchful waiting or a delayed prescription when that's the right fit. The CDC describes waiting 2 to 3 days to see if you improve before starting an antibiotic.
- A prescription when it's needed, sent to your pharmacy.
- Help with the cause, such as allergies, if infections keep coming back.
We see patients by video across Brevard County, including Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, and Indian Harbour Beach. [CONFIRM: in-person availability]
Ways to feel better at home (from CDC and MedlinePlus):
- Warm compress over your nose and forehead
- Saline nasal spray, or a neti pot or saline squeeze bottle (follow the product directions)
- Breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water or a shower
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Use a clean humidifier
- Don't use decongestant nasal sprays for more than 3 to 5 days, as they can make stuffiness worse
When to see a clinician
The CDC suggests seeing a clinician if you have:
- Severe symptoms, like a severe headache or face pain
- Symptoms that get better, then get worse
- Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without improving
- A fever lasting longer than 3 to 4 days
- Several sinus infections in the past year
Call 911 or go to the ER if…
Serious complications are very rare, but they can happen. MedlinePlus lists an abscess, infection around the eye, bone infection, and meningitis. Go to the ER or call 911 if you have sinus symptoms plus:
- Swelling, redness, or pain around one or both eyes, or the eye bulges
- Any change in vision, such as double or blurry vision
- A severe headache with a stiff neck, high fever, or confusion
- Trouble staying awake, or new weakness or numbness
- Trouble breathing
If you're not sure, call us at 321-878-8195. If it feels like an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need antibiotics for a sinus infection?
Often, no. Most sinus infections get better on their own. Your clinician will look at how long you've been sick, how severe it is, and whether you're getting worse.
How long does a sinus infection last?
Acute sinusitis lasts up to 4 weeks, according to MedlinePlus. MedlinePlus suggests contacting a clinician if symptoms last longer than 10 to 14 days, or if a cold gets worse after 7 days.
Is it a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection?
They can feel alike. Colds usually improve within about a week. Allergies often bring itchy eyes and sneezing. A sinus infection is more likely if symptoms last more than 10 days or get worse after starting to improve.
Do saline rinses or neti pots help?
MedlinePlus lists saline sprays, neti pots, and saline squeeze bottles as self-care steps that can ease stuffiness. Follow the product directions carefully, including what kind of water to use. Ask us if you're unsure.
Book a visit
Stuffy, achy, and over it? Book a visit or call 321-878-8195. Please don't send health details through this website or by email. We'll go over everything privately during your visit.
If you think you're having an emergency, call 911.
Sources
- CDC. Sinus Infection Basics. https://www.cdc.gov/sinus-infection/about/index.html
- MedlinePlus (NIH). Sinusitis. https://medlineplus.gov/sinusitis.html
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Sinusitis. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000647.htm
- CDC. About Common Cold. https://www.cdc.gov/common-cold/about/index.html
- American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Hay Fever (decongestant cautions). https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/hay-fever/
Medically reviewed by [Clinician name, credentials] on [date]. Next review due: [date + 12 months].