Sinus Infection Resource Center
Health ConditionsEar, Nose, & ThroatSinus Infection

Sinus Infection

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A sinus infection, or sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinus cavities, which causes symptoms like facial pain, pressure, a runny nose, congestion, and headaches. Depending on the cause, treatment often includes nasal decongestant sprays, antibiotics, and antihistamines.

 Using a humidifier or saline nasal spray or inhaling steam can also relieve symptoms.

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FAQ

What causes a sinus infection?
Viral infections, including rhinoviruses, influenza, and parainfluenza, are the most common causes of sinusitis. However, bacteria, fungi, respiratory illnesses, structural issues in the nose, reactive diseases like asthma, and congenital diseases like cystic fibrosis can also contribute.
Most viral sinus infections resolve within 7 to 10 days. However, bacterial sinusitis may develop after this time and often lasts longer, and chronic forms of sinusitis can last for several months.
Sinusitis typically causes facial pain, pressure, and fullness; blocked sinuses; a thick, yellow-green nasal discharge; and a reduced sense of smell. Headaches, fever, tiredness, coughing, sore throat, foul-smelling breath, postnasal drip, and dental pain may also occur.
See a doctor if symptoms last longer than 10 days or you’ve had several sinus infections in the previous year, a fever for more than three or four days, or symptoms like visual changes, severe headaches, mental status changes, and neck stiffness.
A fever can accompany a sinus infection, especially if the cause is bacterial, but it’s not one of the most common symptoms.
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Jessica Lee, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Jessica Lee, MD, practices general otolaryngology at Charleston ENT and Allergy in South Carolina. After several years in clinical and surgical practice, Dr. Lee wanted to learn mo...
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Jennifer Logan, MD, MPH

Medical Reviewer

Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

Medical Reviewer

Dr. Pat Bass is a board certified general internist and pediatrician at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, and the chief medical information officer a...

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Jane Yoon Scott, MD

Medical Reviewer

Jane Yoon Scott, MD, is an infectious disease physician and an assistant professor of medicine at Emory University in Atlanta. Dr. Scott enjoys connecting with her patients, empowe...

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Sanjai Sinha, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician and an assistant professor of clinical medicine and the director of the care management program at Weill Cornell ...
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Grant Chu, MD, MS, MBA, FACP

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Grant Chu, MD, is an associate clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Chu is also associate director of inpatient East-West consult services at the ...

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David L. Causey, MD

Medical Reviewer
David L. Causey, MD, is a board-certified internist who spent his medical career working in the Department of Veterans Affairs system. During his tenure, he worked in the primary c...
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Nan Du

Nan Du, MD, MPH

Medical Reviewer

Nan Du, MD, MPH, is an instructor at Harvard Medical School and an attending physician at Boston Children’s Hospital. She received her Doctor of Medicine in 2016 from the Warren Al...

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Jerry Bruggeman, MD, MBA, CMD

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Michelle Seguin, MD

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Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Michelle Seguin, MD, is a board-certified family medicine, lifestyle medicine, and certified functional medicine physician (IFMCP). She is a practicing physician at Root Functional...

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Resources
  1. Sinus Infection. American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
  2. Sinusitis. Mount Sinai.