Sinusitis is swelling of the sinuses, the air spaces behind your cheeks, nose and forehead. It usually follows a cold and most cases clear up on their own within two to three weeks. Antibiotics only help a minority of people.
Imagine a cold that seemed to be ending, then a throbbing pressure behind your cheeks every time you bend down. That is classic sinusitis, and the right home care can make the next week far easier.
Symptoms
- Pain, swelling or tenderness around the cheeks, eyes or forehead
- A blocked nose and reduced sense of smell
- Thick green or yellow mucus
- Headache, toothache or bad breath
- Sometimes a fever
What helps
- Rest, fluids and paracetamol or ibuprofen
- Saline nasal rinses or sprays to clear mucus
- Decongestant sprays for short periods only (no more than about a week, or they can make congestion worse)
- Warm compresses over the face
When antibiotics might help
Most sinusitis is viral. A doctor may consider antibiotics if symptoms last more than about 10 days without improving, are severe, or get better and then worse again. Many health services advise seeing a doctor if symptoms last more than three weeks, or keep coming back.
Get urgent help if you have
- Swelling or redness around the eyes
- Changes in your vision, such as double vision
- A severe headache, stiff neck or confusion
- A high temperature with feeling very unwell
But the mucus is green. Doesn’t that mean bacteria?
Not necessarily. Green or yellow mucus is common in viral infections too; the colour comes from your immune system at work. How long you have been ill and how severe it is matter more than colour.
Your next step: Try saline rinses and pain relief for the next few days. If you’re not improving after 10 days, are getting worse, or notice any eye swelling, see a doctor.
Sources: NHS, “Sinusitis (sinus infection)”; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Sinus infection”. This guide is for general information and does not replace advice from your own nurse, doctor or pharmacist.
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