Share What is this? Buzz Digg Facebook More...	EMAIL PRINT RSS

Page: 1 | 2 | Next >

Symptoms

Symptoms Suggesting a Bacterial Infection

Sinus symptoms are very common during a cold or the flu, but in most cases they are due to the effects of the infecting virus and resolve when the infection does. It is important to differentiate between inflamed sinuses associated with cold or flu virus and sinusitis caused by bacteria.

The signs and symptoms that are associated with the diagnosis of sinusitis include one to two of the following:

Nasal congestion and discharge that typically is thick and becomes yellowish to yellow-green
Facial pain, pressure, congestion, or fullness (that is also accompanied by other symptoms of sinusitis)
Symptoms that continue for 10 days or more after the start of a cold or flu
Symptoms worsen after 5 - 7 days, or return after initial improvement in a cold (called double sickening)
Reduced or absent sense of smell
Fever, although should also be accompanied by other symptoms of sinusitis

Other symptoms of sinusitis that usually occur in adults include one to two of the following:

Eyes may be red, bulging, or painful if the sinus infection occurs around the eyes
A persistent cough (particularly during the day)
Ear pain, pressure, or fullness
Halitosis (bad breath)
Dental pain
Fatigue

However, many studies have shown that symptoms used to diagnose sinusitis often do not predict prognosis or response to antibiotic treatment.

Sneezing, sore throat, and muscle aches may be present, but they are rarely caused by sinusitis itself. Muscle aches may be caused by fever, sore throat by post-nasal drip, and sneezing from cold or allergies.

Rare complications of sinusitis can produce additional symptoms, which may be severe or even life threatening.

Symptoms Indicating Medical Emergency

Increasing severity of symptoms
Swelling and drooping eyelid
Loss of eye movement (possible orbital infection, which is in the eye socket)
Vision changes
Pupil fixed or dilated
Symptoms spreading to both sides of face (may indicate blood clot)
Development of severe headache, altered vision
Mild personality or mental changes (may indicate spread of infection to brain)
A soft swelling over the bone (may indicate bone infection)

Symptoms in Children

Children are most likely to develop infection in the ethmoid sinuses, located between the eyes. Children with sinusitis are also less likely to experience facial pain over the affected sinus and headache, which are the primary signs in adults. Symptoms of bacterial sinusitis may be less specific than in adults and include:

Persistent nasal discharge (of any type) and day time cough for more than 10 days, or
Severe symptoms last for at least 3 - 4 days in a row and include thick, greenish nasal discharge plus a fever of at least 102° F

Other symptoms in children may include: