A sinus infection occurs when the lining of your sinus cavity swells or becomes inflamed. This can cause your normally air-filled sinuses to become blocked, fill with fluid and develop into a breeding ground for bacteria. While normally not cause for alarm, when left unmonitored some sinus infections can worsen and become medical emergencies.
Acute vs. Chronic
There are two types of sinus infections.
Acute sinusitis lasts two to four weeks and produces cold-like symptoms, including:
- Facial pain/pressure
- Stuffy nose
- Runny nose
- Loss of smell
- Congestion
A fever, bad breath, fatigue and dental pain may also occur.
Sinusitis is characterized as chronic if the infection lasts longer than 12 weeks. In addition to the symptoms commonly associated with an acute sinus infection, those with chronic sinusitis often experience:
- Feelings of fullness in the face
- Nasal obstruction
- Discolored postnasal drip
- Pus in the nasal cavity
- Headache
- Bad breath
- Tooth pain
- Fatigue
Viral vs. Bacterial
Sinusitis can be caused by either a viral or bacterial infection. The only way to know for sure which is responsible for your symptoms is to swab the inside of your nose and grow a culture. According to Dr. Raj Sindwani, an ear, nose and throat specialist, “This is rarely necessary because sinusitis often goes away by itself.”
He explains that because the symptoms for each cause are similar, doctors typically recommend patients wait seven to ten days before they seek treatment. This is how long it would take a viral infection, such as a cold, to work itself out of your system. “If you don’t get better, we start thinking there’s a bacterial component,” he says. “That’s when we pull the trigger on an antibiotic.”
Antibiotics are only used to treat bacterial infections.
When Sinus Infections Become Serious
Although rare, there are occasions when, left untreated, sinus infections can spread to other parts of the body.
If the infection spreads to the eyes, it can cause redness, swelling and reduced vision. Cavernous sinus thrombosis, a rare condition, can even lead to blindness. IV antibiotics are needed to treat this kind of infection, and you will probably require hospital admittance and a CT scan to see if fluid needs to be drained.
If the sinus infection spreads to the head, it can lead to meningitis or a brain abscess, life-threatening medical conditions. To learn more about sinus infections or to schedule an appointment with an experienced ear, nose and throat doctor, contact Foothills ENT and Allergy and Hearing Center today.