Think you might have a sinus infection (sinusitis), but not quite sure what the actual symptoms are? Well our first advice would be to give your doctor a call, schedule an appointment and let s/he take a look and tell you for certain, but while you wait here are some potential symptoms:
- A blocked or runny nose
- Pain and tenderness around your sinuses
- Throbbing pain that worsens when moving the head
- Pain in your teeth and / or jaw when eating
- A fever or high temperature
Other possible symptoms that could indicate a potential infection:
- Tiredness
- A cough
- Feeling of pressure in your ears
- A loss of taste and smell
- Feeling generally unwell
If you have also recently had a cold that has seemed to have passed, but you’re still feeling very stuffed up and tender in the face then it could mean that you have a viral or bacterial infection causes by the cold in your sinuses which has caused them to become blocked and filled with air.
Falling into two different categories, if you’ve been suffering for more than three months with these symptoms then it’s likely that you’re suffering from chronic sinusitis and should seek advice from your doctor to help. In most cases however most sinus infections are acute with relief gained form pain relief and decongestant sprays bought across the counter. It should be noted though that we advise seeing a doctor in all cases and while many people find relief from sprays and home remedies, such as breathing in steam, health organisations like the NHS have not been able to prove that this have any medical benefit in improving symptoms.
Photo credit: Stevendepolo