Sinusitis is an infection that causes sinus tissue in the nose to swell. It affects about 11% of people in the U.S. each year, causing sinus pressure and congestion.
A sinus infection tends to go away after a week or so. Home remedies and over-the-counter medicines can help relieve symptoms.
If sinusitis symptoms persist or keep coming back, you may need antibiotics or further testing.
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Doctors define sinusitis as an infection in the sinuses.
The sinuses are hollow areas behind the nose and below the eyes. They have mucus to trap germs and a lining of small hairs to help drain the mucus.
Most often, a viral infection causes sinusitis. For instance, a common cold can progress to a sinus infection if the virus infects the sinus membranes.
More rarely, bacteria can cause sinusitis. This can happen after a virus because the added mucus of the immune system response can promote bacterial growth. Or it can occur when mucus builds up for another reason, like allergies.
People with weaker immune systems may get sinusitis from a fungal infection.
Sinusitis differs from a common cold (rhinitis), though the symptoms can be alike.
The common cold causes mucus in the nose and sinuses — the immune system's response to the virus. But sinusitis causes swelling of the sinus lining and more mucus.
Sinus infection symptoms include:
You may also have other symptoms from the virus causing your sinusitis, such as:
You should see a doctor if you have:
These symptoms may mean you have bacterial sinusitis and need antibiotics, or that you have a complication from sinusitis.
Back to topThere are two main types of sinusitis: acute and chronic.
Acute sinusitis can last up to 4 weeks but often goes away within 10 days. Most cases of acute sinusitis don't need treatment.
Subacute sinusitis lasts beyond 1 month, with more mild symptoms, compared to the initial symptoms. Subacute sinusitis may resolve, or it may become chronic.
People who have chronic/recurrent sinusitis should see a doctor to find out the cause and get treatment.
Common cold viruses cause most sinus infections. These viruses spread through viral particles in the air — coughing, talking, or sneezing — or through touching.
Many people who catch a cold don't get a sinus infection. They only get cold symptoms.
Certain risk factors can make people more likely to get sinus infections:
Chronic sinus infections are more common in people with:
Acute sinus infections rarely cause issues.
Complications are more likely to occur with chronic/recurrent sinusitis but are still rare.
These include:
To reduce your risk of a sinus infection, you can:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms, when they started, and whether you've had sinus infections in the recent past.
If your sinus infection didn't get better or came back after 10 days, it's likely bacterial. In most cases, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics without doing tests.
If you have chronic or recurrent sinusitis, your doctor may test you for allergies or asthma.
These may include:
If your doctor thinks there might be a complication from a sinus infection, they may also order a CT scan.
Imaging tests look for a cyst in the sinuses or swelling around the eyes or brain.
Back to topIn most cases, you don't need prescription medicine to treat a sinus infection. That's because most cases of viral sinusitis clear on their own within 3 to 10 days.
You can help relieve symptoms with these at-home sinus infection treatments:
If you have sinusitis that lasts more than 10 days, see your doctor. This means you likely have a bacterial infection and need antibiotics.
If you have chronic or recurrent sinusitis, your sinusitis treatments will depend on the cause.
For instance, your doctor may:
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-05-14 by Donna Geraci, CRNP.
