Symptoms of a Sinus Infection

A stuffy nose may occur after a nose injury and may block the drainage of a sinus. As the fluid builds up, pressure on the sinus increases, causing pain. The blocked sinus may lead to a sinus infection.

Symptoms of a sinus infection include:

• Moderate to severe sinus pain that gets worse when you strain, cough, or bend over.
• Fever.
• Swelling around the eyes.
• Thick yellow or green nasal discharge.
• Trouble breathing through the nose.
• Nasal-sounding voice.
• A general feeling of not being well (malaise).
• A cough caused by drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drip).
• Bad breath (more common in children).
• Reduced senses of taste and smell.

Medical treatment for a sinus infection includes medicines to:

• Treat the infection and prevent infection from spreading.
• Improve breathing.
• Reduce tissue swelling.
• Relieve pain.
• Maintain mucous drainage.
• Prevent scar tissue in the nose and sinuses.

An untreated sinus infection can lead to serious complications.

Credits

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last Revised	March 22, 2011