Those suffering from a sinus infection should stay cautious around others for at least three days after the last symptoms have subsided.
“It is often best-and many times, company policy-that employees stay out of work until they are fever-free for 24 hours, especially with the flu.” Nasal congestion with sinus or facial pain suggests a sinus infection. Sinus infections can be viral or bacterial. “Either way, it's best to stay home,” Wigmore says.
Do: Go to School or Work. If you're worried that you may spread sinusitis to classmates or co-workers, breathe easy. It isn't contagious. Go back to your normal activities if you feel well enough.
Are sinus infections contagious? “Because many times sinus infections are caused by viruses, they can be contagious like other infections, such as colds,” Melinda said. “If you have a sinus infection, it's important to use good hygiene skills.
If the doctor suspects you have a bacterial infection, they may prescribe antibiotics to help you treat that as well. Doctors can also write sick notes for the sinus infection in the case you need to be excused from work, school, or other situations.
Speak with a boss or supervisor on the phone—don't send an email or a text—as early in the day as possible. Make sure to apologize for the inconvenience. Keep the call short and to the point; your manager doesn't need to know all the gory details.
Instead, your doctor looks largely at symptom duration to determine the source of your infection. A viral sinus infection will usually start to improve after five to seven days. A bacterial sinus infection will often persist for seven to 10 days or longer, and may actually worsen after seven days.
While it may be difficult to perform strenuous exercise while you're suffering from chronic sinus infections, light physical activity can be good for you. It can boost the body's immune system to boost white blood cell production to help fight your illness. It can release endorphins, which can make you feel better.
Don't breathe irritating materials or smoke:avoid breathing in harmful materials or fumes when you have a sinus infection. You should not smoke cigarettes or cigars. And, you should avoid high pollution areas. Try to breathe in clean, fresh air.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a fever is at least 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. If you have flu-like symptoms, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least a day after your fever is gone, except to get medical attention or take care of necessities.
Seasonal allergies, cologne, perfume, smoke, and other airborne particulates can mess with your sinuses, especially when suffering from a sinus infection. Unfortunately, other than staying in a hermetically sealed room, there's not much you can do about some of these.
Typically, antibiotics are needed when: Sinus infection symptoms last over a week. Symptoms worsen after starting to get better. Sinusitis symptoms are severe (high fever, skin infection or rash, extreme pain or tenderness around the eyes or nose)
Your allergist may consider ordering a sinus CT. This test can help to define the extent of the infection. Your allergist may also send you to a specialist in allergy and immunology. The specialist will check for underlying factors such as allergies, asthma, structural defects, or a weakness of the immune system.
For adults, 5 to 7 days is enough
The guidelines recommend treating bacterial sinus infections with amoxicillin-clavulanate, instead of the drug currently used, amoxicillin, because the addition of clavulanate helps to thwart the development of antibiotic resistance.
The main difference between them is the duration of the symptoms. A person usually recovers quickly from a cold, whereas a sinus infection can last much longer. Rhinitis is the term for the common cold. Sinusitis, or sinus infection, is inflammation in the space behind the nose.
As your body works hard to fight off the sinus infection, you'll feel more tired than usual. Fatigue can be also be caused by head pain, a lack of adequate sleep, and difficulty breathing due to sinusitis.
Your body uses up a lot of energy to fight off a sinus infection, and this can cause you to feel fatigued for the time you have it. Some of the other symptoms of the condition, such as dizziness and a cough, can also make you feel more and more tired with time.