Overview
Your sinuses are air-filled pockets in the bones of your face, around your nose and eyes. When they get swollen, often during a cold, fluid builds up inside them. That trapped fluid lets germs grow, which causes congestion, a runny nose, and pressure in the face.
Most sinus infections are caused by viruses and get better on their own. Only some are caused by bacteria, and even many of those clear up without antibiotics.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually start during or after a cold.
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Face pain or pressure, around the eyes, cheeks, or forehead
- Headache
- Thick mucus, or mucus dripping down the throat
Less common
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Bad breath
- Reduced sense of smell
How it usually goes
- Days 1–5: Cold symptoms with a stuffy nose and face pressure.
- Days 5–10: Most viral sinus infections start to get better.
- After 10 days: See a healthcare professional if you're not getting better, or if you got better and then worse.
Look up a symptom: Facial pain or pressure · Fever · Headache · Headache in the forehead or front · Mucus or phlegm · Stuffy nose
When to get medical care
Causes
Sinus infections happen when fluid builds up in the sinuses, letting germs grow. Most are caused by viruses, often the ones that cause colds. Some are caused by bacteria.
Anything that blocks the sinuses from draining can lead to an infection, including colds, allergies, nasal polyps, a deviated septum, and smoke.
Does it spread or run in families?
- Yes, it can spread from person to person.
- How it spreads: coughs or sneezes.
- Washing hands often and staying home when sick help protect others.
Who is more likely to get it
- A recent cold
- Seasonal allergies
- Smoking or being around secondhand smoke
- Nasal polyps or a deviated septum
- A weakened immune system
Possible complications
- Infection around the eye: Rare; swollen, red eyelid and eye pain
- Meningitis: Very rare; stiff neck and high fever
- Long-lasting sinusitis: Symptoms for 12 weeks or more
Diagnosis
A healthcare professional can usually tell you have a sinus infection by asking about your symptoms and examining you. The big question is whether it's likely bacterial, which depends mostly on how long it lasts and whether it gets worse after getting better.
Questions you may be asked
- When your symptoms started, and whether they're getting better or worse
- Whether you got better, then worse again
- Whether you have a fever, and for how long
- Whether you have allergies, asthma, or nasal polyps
- How many sinus infections you've had this year
The exam
They'll look in your nose and throat, press gently on your cheeks and forehead to check for tenderness, and check your temperature.
Tests
Tests usually aren't needed. Sometimes:
- Nasal endoscopy: A thin, lighted tube looks inside the nose, if sinus infections keep coming back or don't get better.
- CT scan: Only for infections that keep coming back, don't clear, or seem to be spreading.
Treatment
Most sinus infections get better on their own. Antibiotics don't help viral sinus infections, and their side effects can cause harm. Home care eases the pressure and congestion while you get better.
Self-care
- A warm compress over your nose and forehead to ease pressure
- Saline nasal spray or rinse to clear mucus (use distilled, sterile, or boiled and cooled water for rinses)
- Breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water or a shower
- Rest and drink fluids
- Pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for face pain or headache
Medicines
Over-the-counter medicines can ease symptoms but don't cure the infection. Read labels, and ask a pharmacist if you take other medicines.
| Medicine | Helps with | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Saline spray or rinse | Stuffy nose and thick mucus | Safe at any age. Use distilled, sterile, or boiled and cooled water for rinses. |
| Decongestants Pseudoephedrine | Stuffy nose and sinus pressure | Can raise blood pressure and make it hard to sleep. Don't use decongestant nasal sprays more than 3 days in a row. |
| Pain relievers Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen | Face pain, headache, and fever | Don't go over the daily limit on the label. Children under 6 months: acetaminophen only. |
Medicine names link to drug information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). OwieClear doesn't give doses: follow the label or your healthcare professional.
For some sinus infections, your healthcare professional may suggest watchful waiting: watching for 2 to 3 days to see if you need antibiotics. Or they may give a prescription to fill only if you don't get better. If you get sinus infections often, ask about allergies, nasal polyps, or seeing an ear, nose, and throat doctor.
How it compares
| Sinus infection | Cold | Allergies | Nasal polyps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Face pain or pressure | Common | Mild | Mild | Sometimes |
| Thick mucus | Common | Sometimes | Rare | Sometimes |
| Itchy eyes or nose | Rare | Rare | Common | Rare |
| Fever | Sometimes | Rare | Never | No |
| Usually lasts | 7 to 10 days | 7 to 10 days | As long as the trigger | Months |
Prevention
You can lower your chances of getting a sinus infection:
- Wash your hands often, and stay away from people with colds
- Keep up with vaccines, like the flu and pneumococcal vaccines
- Don't smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke
- Treat allergies
- Use a clean humidifier if the air is dry
Which doctor treats this
- Start with your primary care provider (family doctor or internist).
- They may send you to an ENT doctor (ear, nose, and throat doctor).
Back to school, work, or sports
- Stay home until you've had no fever for 24 hours without fever medicine and you're feeling better.
- For the next 5 days, wash hands often and wear a mask around others.
Children, pregnancy, and older adults
- Children: Children get sinus infections too, often after colds. Call for symptoms that last more than 10 days, a high fever, or swelling around the eye. Children under 6 months: acetaminophen only for pain.
- Pregnancy: Ask your healthcare professional or pharmacist before taking decongestants or other cold medicines. Saline sprays and rinses are safe.
- People with asthma: Sinus infections can make asthma worse. Follow your asthma action plan and call if breathing gets harder.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- If you're pregnant or planning to be, tell your prenatal provider about this condition.
- Some infections can pass to the baby during pregnancy or birth. Tell your provider if you've been exposed.
- Don't start or stop any medicine on your own. Some are safe in pregnancy and some need to be changed.
- Ask before taking any pain reliever. The FDA advises avoiding ibuprofen and naproxen after 20 weeks unless your doctor says to.
- Breastfeeding: Most medicines are fine, but ask. The NIH LactMed database lists what's known about each one.
Outlook
Most sinus infections clear up in about 7 to 10 days. Some people get them often or have symptoms that last for months; a healthcare professional can help find the cause.
Getting ready for your visit
A little preparation helps you get the most from a short visit.
What to bring
- When symptoms started, and whether they got better then worse
- Your highest temperature
- Medicines you've tried, including nasal sprays
- Any allergies, asthma, or nasal polyps
Questions to ask
- Is this likely viral or bacterial?
- Do I need antibiotics, or can I wait 2 to 3 days?
- Which sprays or rinses are safe for me?
- What can I do if I keep getting sinus infections?
Research studies
Research studies test new ways to find and treat health problems. Some are looking for volunteers. Talk with your doctor before joining one.
Search ClinicalTrials.gov for studies on Sinus infection (sinusitis)
Sources
Last updated 2026-11-12.