If you keep having the same symptoms for over two weeks without getting better, a trip to the ER is the best way to stop the signs, especially if there is already difficulty breathing. It may also be possible that there is an underlying condition you may not have discovered yet.
Such cases are termed acute sinusitis. However, this is not always the case for all patients. Some cases of sinus infections are severe and critical that they demand urgent care or emergency room for a sinus infection. Such cases are termed chronic sinusitis and can last several weeks without resolving on their own.
Symptoms of a sinus infection include ear pain, headaches, facial pain and tenderness, nasal discharge, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip, fever, and fatigue. If these symptoms persist or become intolerable despite treatment, or if they improve only to return, it's time to seek medical assistance.
Schedule an appointment with your doctor if:
See a doctor immediately if you have the following signs or symptoms, which could indicate a serious infection: Fever. Swelling or redness around your eyes. Severe headache.
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Sinus surgery using a nasal endoscope is the most commonly recommended procedure for people with chronic sinusitis. The surgeon uses the same type of thin endoscope used during the diagnostic exam. This procedure requires no visible incisions, is performed under general anesthesia.
Red Flag Symptoms. Eye signs, including periorbital swelling or erythema, displaced globe, visual changes, ophthalmoplegia. Severe unilateral headache, bilateral frontal headache, or frontal swelling. Neurological signs or reduced conscious level.
If you have acute sinusitis from a cold or flu, please do try to stay home until you feel better. That way, you won't run the risk of spreading cold and flu germs to others.
Acute sinusitis lasts for less than four weeks. Chronic sinusitis can last for more than 12 weeks. The majority of sinus infection sufferers will see their symptoms start to resolve after about 10 days. While one to two infections a year is considering normal, more than four requires medical attention.
With acute sinusitis, it might be difficult to breathe through your nose. The area around your eyes and face might feel swollen, and you might have throbbing facial pain or a headache.
Oral or injected corticosteroids.
These medications are used to relieve inflammation from severe sinusitis, especially if you also have nasal polyps. Oral corticosteroids can cause serious side effects when used long-term, so they're used only to treat severe symptoms.
Getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated are also essential as the body recovers. If people have symptoms of a sinus infection for longer than 7–10 days or any severe symptoms, they can see their doctor for further treatment.
Sinusitis is inflammation of any of the four sinus cavities behind the face. Commonly referred to as a sinus infection, if left untreated this condition can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening complication.
Most cases of uncomplicated acute bacterial sinusitis can be treated as an outpatient with a good prognosis. Frontal or sphenoid sinusitis with air-fluid levels may require hospitalization with intravenous (IV) antibiotics.
According to the AAFA, if you're dealing with allergies or asthma, or are one of the millions of sinus sufferers, Durham, NC and Seattle, WA are the way to go, with breezy California spots dominating much of the list.
Sinusitis that does not resolve as expected or causes the following changes may mean the condition is far worse and dangerous. Excruciating and sharp pain in the head, ears, throat, or around the eyes that gets worse with movement, lights, or sound.
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.
Sinusitis (also called rhinosinusitis) starts when this drainage system becomes blocked, usually from swelling due to inflammation caused by infection or allergy. Soon, your head hurts, you feel facial pressure or pain, and thick mucus clogs your nose.
Some people continue to experience a lingering sinus infection even after antibiotics. Sinuses are considered a closed cavity. Removing infection from a closed cavity can require more prolonged antibiotic usage compared to infections that occur in an open cavity (like strep throat).
Viral infections are spread the same way as bacterial infections. The difference is that the viral infection will start to improve after 5 to 7 days of the initial onset of the symptoms. There is no one definitive way for a doctor to determine if you have a bacterial or viral sinus infection based on symptoms alone.
Sinus infections can be viral or bacterial. “Either way, it's best to stay home,” Wigmore says. Viral sinus infections are often contagious. If you have had symptoms longer than one week, or if you have severe facial pain, teeth/jaw pain, or fever, you may have a bacterial infection and should consult your doctor.
Chest Pressure: A sinus infection that blocks your nasal passages can make it more difficult to breathe and make your heart have to work harder and faster. You should avoid any physical activity that causes you to feel chest pressure.
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.
When the mucus membranes within the sinuses become infected and inflamed, we call this condition sinusitis or rhinosinusitis. The sinuses drain into nasal passages, so a sinus infection can also spread to them. The result is swelling and pain throughout the face, and difficulty breathing.
The four main symptoms of acute sinusitis include runny or stuffy nose, postnasal drip, congestion, and pain or pressure feeling in the face. Sinusitis (also called a sinus infection) is an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal cavity.