What is sinusitis?
Your sinuses are spaces behind your forehead, nose, cheeks, and eyes that produce mucus, which drains through your nose to keep it clean. When you have an illness, like a cold, your sinus tissue can become inflamed and blocked with excess mucus, making it easier for germs like viruses or bacteria to grow. This can lead to a sinus infection, also known as sinusitis.
Penn Medicine’s primary care providers have the expertise to thoroughly evaluate, diagnose, and treat sinusitis. We also offer specialized care if your infection is complex or related to other conditions. Our team of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) providers is among the largest and most experienced in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, providing advanced treatments for chronic or recurrent sinus infections. When needed, we coordinate with other doctors across our health system, like experts in allergy and immunology and rhinology, to ensure you receive complete care focused on your needs.
Do you have acute or chronic sinusitis?
Acute sinusitis is a short-term illness that often resolves within a month and is usually caused by the common cold. Chronic sinusitis is often caused by bacteria, and symptoms tend to be milder than those of an acute infection but can last 12 weeks or longer.Common symptoms of a sinus infection
Sinus infection symptoms are similar to those of a cold and other respiratory diseases, but a cold usually gets better after a week to 10 days. When a sinus infection develops, your symptoms don’t go away or get worse after about a week of being sick.
Sinusitis produces thick yellow or green mucus in your nose. Other symptoms include:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Loss of smell or bad breath
- Postnasal drip and a sore throat
- Sinus, ear, or tooth pain and pressure
- Fever
- Sinus headaches
- Cough that’s worse at night
- Fatigue
What causes a sinus infection?
Most sinus infections are caused by viruses or bacteria. This can happen when the common cold, the flu, COVID-19, allergies, or another illness causes your sinus tissue to swell, leading to a buildup of mucus. Although sinus infections aren’t contagious, some illnesses that cause them can spread between people, like colds and the flu.
You have a higher risk of sinus infections if you’ve been diagnosed with certain conditions, like asthma, nasal polyps, a deviated septum, cystic fibrosis, or a weakened immune system due to HIV or chemotherapy. Chronic sinusitis can also occur in people who have aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD).
What to expect at your doctor’s visit
Most often, your doctor can diagnose sinusitis by asking you about your symptoms and examining your nose, ears, and throat for signs of a sinus infection. In some cases, your doctor may look at your nose and sinuses using a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope. If you have chronic sinusitis or if infections keep returning, your doctor might order blood work, imaging, or other tests to check for allergies or other conditions that may be causing your symptoms.
Getting relief from sinusitis symptoms
Sinus infections caused by viruses go away on their own. You can manage symptoms like sinus pressure with self-care, like drinking plenty of fluids and using saline nasal sprays or rinses. Your doctor may recommend pain relievers and other medicines for symptom relief. If your doctor suspects that your infection is caused by bacteria, you’ll need an antibiotic. Treating conditions like allergies, nasal polyps, and AERD can also help reduce sinusitis symptoms. Chronic or complex cases may need surgery.
Strategies for preventing sinus infections
Good handwashing habits can help prevent respiratory infections that may lead to sinusitis. Your doctor may also recommend that you use saline rinses, a steroid nasal spray, or a humidifier. Other strategies, like treating allergies and quitting smoking, can also help prevent sinus infections.
Top-tier sinusitis care from skilled providers
At Penn Medicine, you have access to a team of specialists with wide-ranging expertise, from primary care physicians to specialists providing advanced therapies. Whether your sinusitis is acute or chronic, you can trust that you’ll receive complete, well-rounded care that addresses both the infection and any underlying conditions. If your sinusitis is related to AERD, we have the only multispecialty AERD Center in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, providing coordinated medical and surgical treatment that brings lasting results.