Sinusitis how long

Bad breath. A cough that produces mucus. A fever. Pain in your teeth. A reduced sense of taste or smell. How is sinusitis diagnosed? How is it treated? But there are some things you can do at home to help relieve your symptoms: Drink plenty of fluids.

Put a hot, damp towel or gel pack on your face for 5 to 10 minutes at a time, several times a day. Breathe warm, moist air from a steamy shower, a hot bath, or a sink filled with hot water.

Use saline nose drops and sprays to keep the nasal passages moist and use saline nasal washes to help keep the nasal passages open and wash out mucus and bacteria. Try over-the-counter medicine to help relieve pain and pressure in your head and face. Health Tools Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important to many health problems.

Sinusitis: Should I Have Surgery? Sinusitis: Should I Take Antibiotics? Cause Sinusitis is most often the result of a viral infection that causes the mucous membrane lining the inside of the nose and the sinuses to become inflamed.

The mucous membrane swells when it becomes inflamed, blocking the drainage of fluid from the sinuses into the nose and throat. Mucus and fluid build up inside the sinuses, causing pressure and pain. Bacteria are more likely to grow in sinuses that are unable to drain properly. Bacterial infection in the sinuses often causes more inflammation and pain. Symptoms Pain and pressure in the face along with a stuffy or runny nose are the main symptoms of sinusitis.

Other common symptoms of sinusitis include: Headache. Yellow or greenish discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat. Stuffy nose. Cough that produces mucus. Tooth pain. Reduced sense of taste or smell. What Happens There are two types of sinusitis: acute sudden onset and chronic long-term. What Increases Your Risk Your risk of sinusitis increases if you have recently had a cold, another viral or bacterial infection, or an upper respiratory tract infection.

When should you call your doctor? Call your doctor if sinusitis does not improve after 2 days of home treatment and you have symptoms such as: Pain in the face or upper teeth.

Pain extending from the bridge of the nose to the lower eyelid. Headache that is not relieved by an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Nasal discharge that starts out clear and later becomes thick and discolored yellow or green. Cold symptoms that last longer than 10 days or get worse after the first 7 days. Mild or chronic pain in the face that lasts longer than a month, has changed, or has not been checked by a doctor. Not feeling any better within 3 to 5 days after starting antibiotics for your sinus infection.

Exams and Tests Diagnosis of sinusitis is usually based on your medical history and physical exam. Additional tests may be done if: The diagnosis is not clear. Antibiotic treatment has failed to clear up the problem. Complications such as a bone infection are suspected.

Surgery is being considered. They include: Computed tomography CT scan of the head and face , which provides a detailed image of sinus structures. A CT scan may help evaluate severe or chronic sinusitis, identify suspected complications of sinusitis, or rule out other conditions.

It is not used to diagnose acute sinusitis. Sinus X-ray, which may be done to confirm a suspected case of sinusitis. An X-ray produces a picture of dense tissues inside the body. But a CT scan provides better information. These tests may include: An endoscopic sinus exam ESM nasal endoscopy. An ESM uses a lighted viewing instrument called an endoscope to view structures inside your nose and sinus cavities.

ESM is used to evaluate chronic sinusitis. A needle puncture and aspiration of sinus contents , followed by nasal culture to identify the bacteria or fungus causing the problem.

Magnetic resonance imaging MRI. An MRI may be done if there is reason to believe that an infection has spread beyond the sinuses. It is also helpful in evaluating growths or tumors inside the nose or sinuses.

Treatment Overview Sinusitis is treated with medicines and home treatment, such as applying moist heat to your face. The goals of treatment for sinusitis are to: Improve drainage of mucus and reduce swelling in the sinuses. Relieve pain and pressure. Clear up any infection.

Prevent the formation of scar tissue, and avoid permanent damage to the tissues lining the nose and sinuses. For acute sinusitis Short-term acute sinusitis usually lasts less than 4 weeks.

For chronic sinusitis Sinusitis that lasts 12 weeks or longer is called chronic sinusitis. What to think about Sinusitis may be difficult to diagnose, because it often causes the same symptoms as a cold or other viral illness, especially in its early stages. Prevention There are several ways you may reduce your chance of getting sinusitis: Treat stuffiness nasal congestion caused by colds or allergies promptly.

This can help you prevent a bacterial infection from developing in your sinuses. Avoid contact with people who have colds and other viral upper respiratory infections. If you do have contact with people who have these infections, wash your hands often , especially after being in contact with those who are infected. Avoid cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoke in your home and workplace. Smoke causes and further irritates inflamed membranes in your nose and sinuses. If you have allergies, avoid the things that trigger your allergy attacks.

Consider talking to your doctor about immunotherapy, such as allergy shots. For more information, see the topic Allergic Rhinitis. Avoid breathing dry air. Consider using a humidifier at home and work to increase the moisture in the air. Home Treatment Home treatment may relieve symptoms of pain and pressure associated with short-term acute sinusitis.

Drink plenty of fluids to help keep your mucus thin. FESS is carried out under general anaesthetic where you're asleep. Page last reviewed: 02 February Next review due: 02 February Sinusitis sinus infection.

Check if you have sinusitis Sinusitis is common after a cold or flu. Symptoms of sinusitis include: pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead a blocked nose a reduced sense of smell green or yellow mucus from your nose a sinus headache a high temperature toothache bad breath Signs of sinusitis in young children may also include irritability, difficulty feeding, and breathing through their mouth.

What are the sinuses? Sinusitis causes the lining of the sinuses to swell up. You may have heard that you can sweat out a cold, but is this an effective remedy? Learn more here. Typically, postnasal drip can be alleviated at home. Try these remedies and OTC products to relieve your symptoms. Salt water gargles are touted as an effective and easy home remedy for a sore throat.

We explain why, plus additional benefits. Can apple cider vinegar be used for colds? We explain the benefits of apple cider vinegar, and what the science says about it treating the common cold. What does research say about whether you should exercise with a cold? Learn what you should and shouldn't do, and how you can help yourself recover….

When you have a cold, you may have a hard time sleeping well due to congestion, coughing, or a runny nose. Some medications may help you sleep better…. A healthy diet is key to flu prevention and a working immune system. Check out these easy-to-make drinks that contain the essential nutrients.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Sinus Infection Symptoms. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Sinusitis Medically known as rhinosinusitis, a sinus infection occurs when your nasal cavities become infected, swollen, and inflamed. Chronic vs. Pain in your sinuses. Nasal discharge. Nasal congestion. Sinus headaches. Throat irritation and cough. Sore throat and hoarse voice.

When to see your doctor for sinus infection. Treating sinus infections. Can sinus infections be prevented? Sinus infections in children. Sinus infection outlook and recovery. Sinus Infection: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment. Environmental factors such as smoking or allergies are common causes of developing chronic sinusitis.

The best course of action for a sinus infection is the wait-and-see approach with the addition of over-the-counter nasal sprays and oral decongestants. If your symptoms do not improve after 10 days, you should make an appointment with your ear, nose and throat doctor, as you may require antibiotics.

For those suffering from chronic sinusitis with no relief from medication, surgery may be an option. To learn more about treating your sinus infection or to schedule an appointment with your ear, nose and throat expert, contact Eastern Oklahoma ENT today.