Feb
17
2010
How Do You Know If You Have A Sinus Infection?
Posted by: Alan in Sinus Infection, tags: Have, Infection, Know, Sinus
I have been sick for OVER a week. I thought it was a cold but now I wonder if I have a sinus infection. How can you tell?!?
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February 17th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
The classic symptoms of acute sinusitis usually follow a cold that does not improve, or one that worsens after 5 – 7 days of symptoms. They include:
Nasal congestion and discharge
Sore throat and postnasal drip (fluid dripping down the back of your throat, especially at night or when you lie down)
Headache — pressure-like pain, pain behind the eyes, toothache, or facial tenderness
Cough, often worse at night
Fever (may be present)
Bad breath or loss of smell
Fatigue and generally not feeling well
Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are the same as acute sinusitis, but tend to be milder and last longer than 8 weeks
Promote drainage
Drink plenty of water and hydrating beverages. Hot tea is often recommended.
Inhale steam two to four times per day by leaning over a bowl of boiling hot water (not while the water is on the stove) or using a steam vaporizer with a towel over the head and bowl to prevent the escape of the steam. Inhale the steam for about 10 minutes. Taking a hot, steamy shower may also work. Mentholated preparations, such as Vicks Vapo–Rub, can be added to the water or vaporizer to aid in opening the passageways.
Thin the mucus: Expectorants are drugs that help to expel mucus from the lungs and respiratory passages. They help to thin mucous secretions, enhancing drainage from the sinuses. The most common is guaifenesin (contained in Robitussin, for example). Over–the–counter (OTC) liquid cough medications or prescription tablets can also combine decongestants and cough suppressants to reduce symptoms as well as to eliminate the need for the use of many medications. Read label ingredients to find the right combination of ingredients or ask the pharmacist for help.
Relieve pain: Pain medication such as ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil are examples), aspirin, and acetaminophen (Tylenol is in this category) can reduce pain and inflammation. These medications help to open the airways by reducing swelling.
The antibiotics that are effective treatment for sinus infection must be able to kill these bacterial types. Amoxicillin (Amoxil) is an acceptable first antibiotic for an uncomplicated acute sinus infection. In the penicillin allergic patient, cefaclor (Ceclor), loracarbef (Lorabid), clarithromycin (Biaxin), azithromycin (Zithromax), sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra) may be used as first choices. If a patient is not improving after five days of treatment with amoxicillin, the patient may be switched to one of the above drugs or amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin). Generally an effective antibiotic needs to be continued for a minimum of 10-14 days. It is however not unusual to need to treat sinus infection for 14-21 days. Taking decongestants (pseudoephedrine) and mucolytics (guaifenesin) orally may be helpful in assisting drainage of sinus infection. In general, antihistamines should be avoided unless it is felt that the sinus infection is due to allergy, such as from pollens, dander, or other environmental causes. It is likely that the use of a topical nasal steroid spray will help reduce swelling in the allergic individual without the drying that is caused by using antihistamines. The treatment of chronic forms of sinus infection require longer courses of drugs such as Augmentin and may require a sinus drainage procedure. This drainage typically requires a surgical operation to open the blocked sinus under general anesthesia.
I hope this was helpful,Feel Better!!!
February 17th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
When you blow your nose, is the mucus yellow or green? If so, you have a sinus infection. If the muscus is clear, then it’s a cold.
February 17th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
your nose,head and jaw will ache .I had to get meds from the doctor it was a 5 day treatment .it worked great
February 17th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
There is green crap coming out of your nose.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
See your doctor….I had sinus infection this winter and it lasted a month, untill I got antibiotics.