Symptoms of a sinus infection
A stuffy nose may occur after a nose injury and may block the drainage of a sinus
. As the fluid builds up, pressure on the sinus increases, causing pain. The blocked sinus may lead to a sinus infection.
Symptoms of a sinus infection include:
- Moderate to severe sinus pain that gets worse when you strain, cough, or bend over.
- Fever.
- Swelling around the eyes.
- Thick yellow or green nasal discharge.
- Difficulty breathing through the nose.
- Nasal-sounding voice.
- A general feeling of not being well (malaise).
- A cough caused by drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drip).
- Bad breath (more common in children).
- Reduced senses of taste and smell.
Medical treatment for a sinus infection includes medications to:
- Treat the infection and prevent infection from spreading.
- Improve breathing.
- Reduce tissue swelling.
- Relieve pain.
- Maintain mucous drainage.
- Prevent scar tissue in the nose and sinuses.
An untreated sinus infection can lead to serious complications.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: April 20, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology | |
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