A bad sinus infection looks like severe facial pain/pressure (worse when bending over), thick yellow/green mucus, stuffy nose, fever, fatigue, headache, tooth pain, and possibly reduced smell/taste, often with symptoms worsening after 10 days or a mild cold, and can include eye swelling or redness, indicating a potentially serious infection needing medical attention.
See a healthcare provider if you have:
To treat a sinus infection while pregnant, focus on safe home remedies like saline nasal rinses, steam inhalation, warm compresses, and staying hydrated, while using acetaminophen for pain and resting; always consult your doctor before taking any medication, especially avoiding NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) and oral decongestants, as some treatments are unsafe during pregnancy.
Yes, a sinus infection (sinusitis) can absolutely cause nausea, primarily through post-nasal drip irritating the stomach and from the intense pressure and inflammation leading to headaches and dizziness, which in turn trigger queasiness. This happens when excess mucus drains down the throat, upsetting the stomach lining, and sinus pressure affects balance, leading to nausea or even vomiting.
Bacterial sinusitis often causes chills and night sweats because of the body's immune response. When bacteria infect the sinuses, the body gets inflamed. This can lead to fever, chills, and sweating.
Sinusitis red flags signal a severe infection needing urgent care, including severe eye symptoms (swelling, redness, vision changes like double vision), high fever, stiff neck, confusion, severe facial swelling/numbness, or neurological changes (difficulty walking/talking), indicating potential spread to the eyes or brain. For less severe cases, seek care if symptoms last over 10 days, worsen after improving ("double sickening"), or include severe facial pain/toothache, suggesting bacterial sinusitis.
Head to the ER right away if you have a sinus infection that includes new vision problems, significant swelling around your eyes, a severe headache, confusion, or trouble speaking. These symptoms suggest the infection may be spreading and should be treated as an emergency.
The sinuses are small, empty spaces behind your cheekbones and forehead that connect to the inside of the nose. Sinusitis causes the lining of the sinuses to swell up. This stops mucus draining into your nose and throat properly, making you feel blocked up.
Sinusitis and earache are closely related as a sinus congestion often develops into an ear congestion. Infected sinuses tend to swell and become congested with mucus, in turn exerting painful pressure on nearby body parts, such as the middle ear. This leads to experiencing severe discomfort in one or both ears.
The four main symptoms of sinusitis are nasal congestion/blockage, facial pain/pressure, thick, discolored mucus (yellow/green), and a reduced sense of smell or taste, often accompanied by a cough, postnasal drip, and fatigue, making it hard to breathe and causing discomfort around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead.
On its own, a sinus infection while pregnant is not likely to harm your unborn baby. However, in rare cases, the symptoms of a sinus infection can lead to complications during pregnancy.
How to relieve sinus pressure
Five key warning signs during pregnancy needing immediate medical attention include vaginal bleeding, severe headaches with vision changes, decreased baby movement, severe abdominal pain/cramping, and signs of preterm labor like regular contractions or fluid leakage, as these can signal serious issues like miscarriage, preeclampsia, placental problems, or infection. Always contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency care for these symptoms.
It's not common. But a serious sinus infection can spread to the membranes and fluid around the brain and spinal cord. The infection is called meningitis. Other serious infections can spread to the bones, called osteomyelitis, or to skin, called cellulitis.
Fungal sinusitis is a broad term used to describe various situations when fungus might be involved in the cause or symptoms of nasal and sinus inflammation. Fungus is an entirely separate “kingdom” from plants and animals; they are plant-like but cannot create their own food like plants do.
A sinus infection rarely spreads to the brain, but when it does, it can lead to serious conditions like meningitis or encephalitis . Warning signs include severe headache, visual changes, and seizures, which require urgent medical assistance.
Sinusitis red flags signal a severe infection needing urgent care, including severe eye symptoms (swelling, redness, vision changes like double vision), high fever, stiff neck, confusion, severe facial swelling/numbness, or neurological changes (difficulty walking/talking), indicating potential spread to the eyes or brain. For less severe cases, seek care if symptoms last over 10 days, worsen after improving ("double sickening"), or include severe facial pain/toothache, suggesting bacterial sinusitis.
Salt water nasal irrigation and/or nasal steroid sprays are the main treatments for the symptoms of chronic sinusitis. Antibiotics may sometimes be helpful but not always.
Other predisposing factors are deviated septum, nasal polyps, cystic fibrosis, dental infections, reflux disease, autoimmune disease, and facial trauma. Notably, primary immunodeficiency is also a factor in developing sinusitis. IgG deficiency, IgA deficiency, and antibody deficiency can all present with sinusitis.
Sinus infections can lead to excess mucus production, which can accumulate in the nasal passages and throat. This can create a feeling of heaviness and congestion, contributing to a general sense of tiredness.
Severe facial or head pain: Intense pain or pressure that is difficult to manage. High fever: If your temperature exceeds 102°F (39°C) and does not respond to medication. Eye-related symptoms: Swelling or redness around the eyes, severe eye pain, or changes in vision.
If you're combating a sinus infection following a cold or flu, rest can help you recuperate. However, rest is unlikely to relieve fatigue associated with chronic sinusitis. If you have chronic sinusitis, your immune system is working overtime, which can cause you to feel tired.
Sinus infections and COVID-19 can both cause congestion and sore throats, but COVID-19 often presents with additional symptoms like body aches and loss of smell. Understanding the key differences between COVID and a sinus infection can help with getting an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment.
Acute sinusitis symptoms often include: Thick, yellow or greenish mucus from the nose, known as a runny nose, or down the back of the throat, known as postnasal drip. Blocked or stuffy nose, known as congestion. This makes it hard to breathe through the nose.
Because up to 80% of sinusitis cases resolve on their own within 2 weeks, doctors generally wait 7 - 14 days before prescribing antibiotics. The standard first-line antibiotic treatment for acute uncomplicated bacterial sinusitis is a 10 - 14 day course of amoxicillin.