Viral vs. Bacterial Sinus Infections: Understanding the Difference
A sinus infection occurs when the air-filled cavities in your head called sinuses get infected by a virus or bacteria. This results in inflamed sinuses and a long list of unwanted symptoms.
Though most cases of sinusitis are viral and part of the common cold, some are bacterial in nature. Knowing which you have ensures you get appropriate treatment. Unfortunately, it can be tricky to determine the source of any given sinus infection. That said, the following may indicate a bacterial infection:
- Facial pain
- Pain in the upper teeth
- Symptoms that get worse after you begin feeling better (known as double-sickening or double-worsening)
- Thick, colored discharge that is not clear
How to Treat a Sinus Infection at Home
Whether you have 50 or just one symptom of sinusitis, you don’t want to live with it longer than necessary. Fortunately, most sinus infections clear up on their own in a few days. Because of this, medication is rarely prescribed for viral or bacterial sinusitis.
Instead of asking for medication, try these home remedies:
- Find relief with a warm compress. Run a washcloth under warm water and then place it on your nose and forehead. This should reduce the pressure and open sinus passages.
- Flush out your sinuses. Clear out clogged passages with neti pots and other nasal saline irrigation devices. Just be careful. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends boiled or distilled water for nasal irrigation as tap water can lead to dangerous and even deadly infections.
- Use over-the-counter medications. Medicine you find on the shelves of your supermarket or pharmacy can help with sinusitis symptoms. Saline nasal sprays and decongestants can provide relief from a runny nose and congestion. Antihistamines reduce inflammation and calm down other symptoms.
- Use steam therapy. Take a hot shower or boil a pan of water, turn off the heat, and breathe in the steam. Either method will open your sinuses and give you temporary relief.
When to Use Antibiotics for Sinusitis
Though most cases of viral and bacterial sinusitis clear up quickly on their own, some don’t. Some last longer than a week with no signs of getting better. They can cause a fever that lasts for a few days, severe facial pain or forehead headaches, or symptoms that get worse after they seem to improve.
In those cases, don’t wait for the infection to heal on its own. Seek medical attention. If your primary care provider suspects a bacterial sinus infection, you will likely receive an antibiotic prescription. Remember to avoid antibiotics in the early days of an infection. Excessive antibiotic use can reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics in the future. The American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology recommends you only take antibiotics if symptoms last longer than a week. In the meantime, allow your immune system to do its job.
How to Know if You’re Having an Allergic Reaction to Antibiotics
When Antibiotics Don’t Work
Have an infection that isn’t responding to antibiotics or sinusitis that has more than two weeks? You’re experiencing a unique sinus infection that could cause more serious complications.
Depending on your specific case, a CT scan can help. This gives health care providers a closer look at what is occurring in the sinuses. You may also benefit from an otolaryngology specialist, who can determine whether other issues are causing your ongoing sinusitis.
Should the root of your sinus infection remain a mystery, additional tests can pinpoint the exact cause. If bacterial, your primary care provider may prescribe you a specific antibiotic. Fungal infections are rare and need to be treated surgically.
How to Treat Sinus Infections with Surgery
When other treatment methods fail, the final resort for sinusitis is surgery. In many cases, the goal is to fix defects in the sinuses. Reasons to undergo surgical treatment for sinusitis include:
- Narrowing of the sinuses caused by other reasons
- Presence of nasal polyps; growths that block the sinuses and increase the risk of infection
- Recurrent sinus infections
- Small sinus drainage openings from birth
A Less Invasive Intervention for Chronic Sinusitis
Sinusitis that occurs regularly and sticks around for three months or longer is called chronic sinusitis. While surgical repair of the sinuses may be necessary, it often isn’t. That’s why the University of Maryland Medical System offers balloon sinuplasty in addition to sinus surgery.
During this procedure, the otolaryngologist inserts a thin flexible tube called a catheter into the nostril and leads it to the affected sinus. A tiny balloon is then expanded in the sinus through the catheter. This immediately opens blocked sinuses and grants relief from sinus infection.
Protect Your Sinuses From Infection
Tired of researching how to treat a sinus infection? With a few simple steps, you can help prevent sinusitis in the first place.
Get started with the following steps:
- Don’t smoke cigarettes and or spend time around secondhand smoke.
- Get vaccinated for the flu and other seasonal illnesses.
- If you have seasonal allergies, take appropriate medication or receive allergy shots. Otherwise, your allergies can lead to sinus infection.
- Run a humidifier during the winter to moisten the air in your home.
- Stay away from people who have cold, flu or other upper respiratory infections.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
More to Read
- Is It A Cold, Sinus Infection or Allergies?
- When Is Allergy Season? That Depends on Your Allergy
- Keep Your Family Safe From the Flu
- 10 Common Vaccine Myths Busted
Medically Reviewed by Jeffrey S. Wolf, MD, FACS
