An infection of the sinus cavity close to the brain can be life threatening, if not treated. In rare cases, it can spread to the brain. Normal sinuses are lined with a thin layer of mucus that traps dust, germs and other particles in the air.
The Mayo Clinic suggests making an appointment with your doctor if you notice the following: Your sinus infection lasts longer than a week. You have recurring sinus infections that do not respond to treatment. Your symptoms persist or worsen after you see your doctor.
Left untreated, a sinus infection has the potential to spread to your meninges (the protective coverings around your brain and spinal cord), causing them to become inflamed — a condition called meningitis. Meningitis gives rise to the following signs and symptoms: Sudden, high-grade fever. Neck stiffness.
Instead, your doctor looks largely at symptom duration to determine the source of your infection. A viral sinus infection will usually start to improve after five to seven days. A bacterial sinus infection will often persist for seven to 10 days or longer, and may actually worsen after seven days.
Typically, antibiotics are needed when: Sinus infection symptoms last over a week. Symptoms worsen after starting to get better. Sinusitis symptoms are severe (high fever, skin infection or rash, extreme pain or tenderness around the eyes or nose)
Sinus infections can be viral or bacterial. “Either way, it's best to stay home,” Wigmore says. Viral sinus infections are often contagious. If you have had symptoms longer than one week, or if you have severe facial pain, teeth/jaw pain, or fever, you may have a bacterial infection and should consult your doctor.
Some cases of sinus infections are severe and critical that they demand urgent care or emergency room for a sinus infection. Such cases are termed chronic sinusitis and can last several weeks without resolving on their own.
Don't breathe irritating materials or smoke:avoid breathing in harmful materials or fumes when you have a sinus infection. You should not smoke cigarettes or cigars. And, you should avoid high pollution areas. Try to breathe in clean, fresh air.
The bacteria confine themselves in stubborn “biofilms,” making it difficult for your immune system or antibiotics to find and attack them. An overlap of additional factors such as smoking, environmental pollutants, and deviated septum, further complicate the picture of chronic sinusitis.
As your body works hard to fight off the sinus infection, you'll feel more tired than usual. Fatigue can be also be caused by head pain, a lack of adequate sleep, and difficulty breathing due to sinusitis.
If your symptoms do not improve after 10 days, you should make an appointment with your ear, nose and throat doctor, as you may require antibiotics. For those suffering from chronic sinusitis with no relief from medication, surgery may be an option.
About 70% of sinus infections go away within two weeks without antibiotics.
A sinus infection is diagnosed in a physical exam by a primary care doctor, who will look inside your nasal cavity and check for sinus pressure or tenderness by gently touching or feeling your face.
For adults, 5 to 7 days is enough
The guidelines recommend treating bacterial sinus infections with amoxicillin-clavulanate, instead of the drug currently used, amoxicillin, because the addition of clavulanate helps to thwart the development of antibiotic resistance.
Sinus infections are common and usually not serious. They can have many causes, including viruses and bacteria, nasal polyps or allergies. You can usually care for yourself at home by resting, taking over-the-counter products and drinking plenty of fluids.
How Do Sinus Infections Spread? Sinusitis generally spreads in the same way a cold or flu does. Particles and droplets containing viruses become airborne after a person coughs or sneezes, and those germs then spread to others. These viruses can also be passed by physical touch.
Amoxicillin remains the drug of choice for acute, uncomplicated bacterial sinusitis. Amoxicillin is most effective when given frequently enough to sustain adequate levels in the infected tissue. While often prescribed twice daily, it is even more effective if taken in 3 or 4 divided doses.