Is it a sinus infection or a common cold? Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between them. Infection or inflammation of the sinuses is also known as sinusitis and effects millions of people every year. In many cases it can cause serious discomfort or pain. The symptoms of sinus infections actually depend upon which of the four sinus cavities are affected and whether or not the sinus infection is acute or chronic.
Acute sinusitis normally lasts eight weeks or less or occurs no more than three times per year with an average episode lasting less than eleven days. Chronic sinusitis usually lasts longer than eight weeks or will occur more than four times per year with symptoms that last longer than twenty-one days.
One of our favorite sites with a 24 hour, 100% natural sinus infection home remedy!
There are many symptoms of acute sinus infection including nasal discharge, post nasal drip whereby mucus drips down the back of the throat behind the nose, facial pain or pressure in the area of the affected sinus cavities, fever and headaches.
Symptoms of chronic sinus infection include chronic soar throat, chronic nasal discharge, bad breath, prolonged facial pain, discomfort below the eyes or across the bridge of the nose, toothaches and low-grade headaches.
It is often difficult to determine whether or not you have a common cold or a sinus infection. For example, a stuffy nose could be a symptom of a sinus infection or a common cold.
Your doctor can diagnose sinusitis using an assortment of methods including listening to your symptoms, doing a physical examination, taking X-rays, and if necessary, an MRI or CT scan (magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography).