4 Things to Know About Sinusitis

Between the sniffling, headaches, and congestion, there’s nothing more frustrating than a stuffy nose. Luckily, that discomfort usually goes away in a few days, but what if it doesn’t? If that cold has lingered for more than a week or so, it may actually be sinusitis. If you think you have sinusitis (also known as a sinus infection), here are a few things you should know about the disease.

Sinusitis isn’t the same as a cold.

Because the symptoms of sinusitis often mimic that of a cold, people often think they’re the same thing, but there are actually several differences between the two ailments. The main difference between a cold and sinus infection is how long the symptoms persist. A cold should last no longer than a week and will go away on its own, while untreated sinusitis can last for weeks. Another main difference is the color of your nasal discharge. During a cold, discharge should be mostly clear and runny. If you are noticing thick, dark brown, or yellow discharge, that can be a sign of sinusitis.

You have four different nasal cavities.

You may have two nostrils, but you have four sinus cavities. The four cavities are the frontal, maxillary, sphenoid, and ethmoid. You can have one or several infected cavities and each has their own symptoms.

An inflamed...   

• frontal can cause a sensitivity to light and forehead pain.
• maxillary can cause tender teeth and jaws.
• sphenoid can cause ear pain.
• ethmoid can cause eye pain.

Symptoms vary person to person.

Like most illnesses, no two people experience the same symptoms of sinusitis. Your symptoms will most likely correlate with the number of inflamed cavities and the severity of the blockage.

They do sometimes require medical attention.

Depending on the type of infection you have (bacterial or viral) you may need to seek the help of a trained professional. A viral infection won’t respond to antibiotics and is more likely to go away on its own or with the help of a few home remedies, like tea and a neti pot. A bacterial infection on the other hand, can stick around a lot longer and will respond to antibiotics. If you’re not feeling better within 7 - 10 days of your first symptoms, consult an ENT specialist.

If you think you have a sinus infection, the specialists at Florida ENT can quickly and accurately cure your symptoms. We encourage you to give our Sinus & Facial Plastics Institute a call to schedule an appointment. We offer allergy screening, allergy management and immunotherapy. To schedule an appoint, give us a call at (877) EAR-NOSE!