Sinus infections and colds have similar symptoms, so knowing which is which can be helpful. In this article, we will discuss the symptoms of sinus infection and what that means for you.
Believe it or not, a sinus infection happens when your sinuses get infected. Crazy, right? Some people believe that colds are to blame for sinus infections. However, sinus infections do not mutate from a cold. Of course, a cold can be a breeding ground for bacteria to grow, which can then turn into a sinus infection.
While symptoms of colds and sinus infections have many similarities, there are a number of symptoms of sinus infection that are, generally speaking, unique to it, as follows:
- Sinus pressure (behind the eyes)
- Nasal discharge (yellow or green mucus)
- Sore throat
- Bad breath
- Mucus running down throat
- Teeth pain
Now What?
If you do have a sinus infection, you have a couple of options. The first is to wait it out, which could take up to four weeks if it’s caused by a bacterial infection. The second is to visit an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, such as Dr. Paul Lenkowski of Roanoke Valley ENT & Allergy. An ENT specialist can identify the cause of the infection, thus being better able to determine the cause and, therefore, the amount of time it should take to heal on its own. If you’d rather not wait it out (it is rather unpleasant, after all), consider consulting with an ENT to determine if antibiotics are right for you. If so, you will get a prescription that will help speed up the recovery process.
Sinus infections are no fun, but at least by knowing the symptoms, you can get the proper help. Visit Roanoke Valley ENT & Allergy online and schedule an appointment with us today!