Wondering if you have a cold or a sinus infection? Doctors explain the key differences between them and treatment options for viral or bacterial infections.
Eye pain If you are experiencing eye pain in addition to other cold symptoms, then there’s a good chance that you have a sinus infection. “This occurs because the sinuses sit in areas above, below, and next to the eyes,” explains Ming Wang, M.D., an ophthalmologist based in Nashville, TN. “When pressure builds up in these areas, it can cause a dull pain that feels like it's coming from around or behind the eyes, but it is actually coming from the sinuses,' he says. Dr. Wang says this is one of the most misunderstood symptoms of sinus infections he sees.
Nighttime coughing There’s nothing worse than being kept awake at night because you are coughing, and it turns out that it could be a sign that your cold is actually a sinus infection. “Lying down at night makes it easier for mucus to drip down the back of the throat , irritating the back of the throat and the gag reflex. The body responds instinctively by coughing,” says Chirag Shah, M.D., co-founder of Accesa Labs and a board-certified emergency medicine physician.
Toothache Although tooth pain is usually worth a trip to the dentist, it can actually be a sinus infection symptom. “One very common unknown side effect of sinus infections is actually tooth pain in the upper right and left quadrants due to placement and inflammation of the pressure the sinus is placing on the teeth,” says Libbi Finnessy, DDS, founder of Bellevue Dental Health.
Headache Having a sinus headache doesn’t automatically mean you have a sinus infection, but headachescan be one of the sneaky signs that one is brewing. “Traditional sinus headaches tend to be ‘frontal,’ or felt in the forehead and eyebrows, and ‘maxillary,’ or in the cheeks,” explains Amber Stephens, M.D., a family physician at DaVita Medical Group.“Often when a patient leans down or bends forward, such as when tying one’s shoe, the motion will cause mucus to pour forward with increased pressure.” Dr. Stephens says she has had patients who thought they had migraines but actually had sinus infections.
Bad breath Dr. Barnes says that a foul smell in your nose or bad breath can also be signs that a sinus infection is at play. As Don Grant, MBChB, a UK-based physician at The Independent Pharmacy explains it, “If you have a sinus infection, you may experience a thick, yellow or green mucus in the nose and throat. As the mucus drips down your throat, it affects your breath, making it smell unpleasant.' And because your nose is congested, you'll breathe through your mouth more, drying it out and exacerbating your bad breath.
Symptoms are worsening Are your symptoms worsening rather than improving after a week or so? If you suspect a sinus infection, pay attention to the timing.“Colds are usually over by five to seven days, whereas sinus infections can worsen at five to seven days, especially if they are bacterial and you haven’t started antibiotics yet,” says Dr. Barnes. So if you just can’t seem to kick that cold, it’s probably worth checking in with your doctor.
How to get rid of a sinus infection The treatment for a sinus infection depends on whether it is viral or bacterial. If it is viral, antibiotics won’t help, so Dr. Wang suggests remedies like nasal saline sprays or rinses , nasal steroids , decongestants, and over-the-counter pain relievers. Dr. King notes that most sinus infections are viral.Bacterial sinus infections, however, require antibiotics—and sometimes more. “For some patients, the swelling inside the nose can be so severe that in addition to antibiotics, they will also need a prescription for low-dose oral steroids,” says Dr. Barnes.If you have recurring sinus infections that persist for multiple weeks, Dr. Barnes says your doctor may refer you to an otolaryngologist to discuss sinus surgery for treating recurrent infections.
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