Acute sinusitis (sinus infection)

Patient information: Acute sinusitis (sinus infection)

Author
Peter H Hwang, MD
Anne Getz, MD Section Editor
Mark D Aronson, MD Deputy Editor
Leah K Moynihan, RNC, MSN

ACUTE SINUSITIS OVERVIEW — Rhinosinusitis, or more commonly sinusitis, is the medical term for inflammation (swelling) of the lining of the sinuses and nose. The sinuses are the hollow areas within the facial bones that are connected to the nasal openings (show figure 1). The sinuses are lined with mucous membranes, similar to the inside of the nose.

There are two main types of sinusitis: acute and chronic. Acute sinusitis is inflammation that lasts for less than four weeks while chronic sinusitis lasts for more than 12 weeks. Acute sinusitis is common, affecting approximately one million people per year in the United States.

This article will discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatment of acute sinusitis in adults. Information about the common cold is also available separately. (See “Patient information: The common cold in adults”).

ACUTE SINUSITIS CAUSES — The most common cause of acute sinusitis is a viral infection associated with the common cold. Bacterial sinusitis occurs much less commonly, in only 0.5 to 2 percent of cases, usually as a complication of viral sinusitis.

Because antibiotics are effective only against bacterial, and not viral, infections, most people do not need antibiotics for acute sinusitis. (See “Acute sinusitis and rhinosinusitis in adults”).

ACUTE SINUSITIS SYMPTOMS — Symptoms of acute sinusitis include:

Nasal congestion or blockage
Thick, yellow to green discharge from the nose
Pain in the teeth
Pain or pressure in the face that is worse when bending forwards
Other acute sinusitis symptoms can include fever (temperature greater than 100.4ºF or 38ºC), fatigue, cough, difficulty or inability to smell, ear pressure or fullness, headache, and bad breath.

In most cases, these symptoms develop over the course of one day and begin to improve within seven to 10 days.

DO I NEED TO BE EXAMINED? — It is difficult to know if you have a viral or bacterial sinus infection initially. However, most people with a viral infection improve without treatment within seven to 10 days after symptoms begin. Bacterial sinusitis also sometimes improves without treatment, although it can also worsen and require treatment.

If one or more of the following bothersome symptoms last more than seven days, an examination by a healthcare provider is recommended:

Thick, yellow to green discharge from the nose
Face or tooth pain, especially if it is only on one side
Tenderness over the maxillary sinuses (located on the left and right side of the nose, inside the cheekbones)
Symptoms that initially improve and then worsen
When to seek immediate help — If you have one or more of the following symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately (even if symptoms have been present for less than seven days):

High fever (>102.5º F or 39.2º C)
Sudden, severe pain in the face or head
Double vision or difficulty seeing
Confusion or difficulty thinking clearly
Swelling or redness around one or both eyes
Stiff neck, shortness of breath
ACUTE SINUSITIS TREATMENT — Initial treatment of a sinus infection aims to relieve symptoms since almost everyone will improve within the first seven to 10 days. Experts recommend avoiding antibiotics during this time unless there is clear evidence of a severe bacterial infection. (See “Moderate or severe symptoms” below).

Initial treatment

Pain relief — Non-prescription pain medications, such as acetaminophen (eg, Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (eg, Motrin®, Advil®) are recommended for pain. Dosing tables are provided in table 1 (show table 1).

Nasal irrigation — Flushing the nose and sinuses with a saline solution several times per day can help to decrease pain caused by congestion. Instructions for nasal irrigation are provided in table 2 (show table 2).

Nasal glucocorticoids — Nasal glucocorticoids (steroids delivered by a nasal spray) can help to reduce swelling inside the nose, usually within two to three days. These drugs have few side effects and dramatically relieve symptoms in most people.

There are a number of nasal glucocorticoids available by prescription (show table 3). These drugs are all effective, but differ in how frequently they must be used and how much they cost.

You may need to use a nasal decongestant for a few days before starting a nasal glucocorticoid to reduce nasal swelling; this will allow the nasal glucocorticoid to reach more areas of the nasal passages (see “Nasal decongestants” below).

Nasal decongestants — Nasal decongestant sprays, including oxymetazoline (Afrin®) and phenylephrine (Neo-synephrine®) can be used to temporarily treat congestion. However, these sprays should not be used for more than two to three days due to the risk of rebound congestion (when the nose is congested constantly unless the medication is used repeatedly).

Other treatments — Other treatments for congestion, such as oral antihistamines (such as diphenhydramine/Benadryl®) or zinc supplements are not proven to improve symptoms of sinusitis and can have unwanted side effects. Medications to thin secretions (such as guaifenesin) may help to clear mucus.

Do I need an antibiotic? — If bothersome symptoms of sinusitis persist for 10 or more days, it is possible that you have bacterial sinusitis. The need for antibiotics depends upon the severity of your symptoms.

Mild symptoms — There are two possible treatment options if you have mild sinusitis symptoms: treat with antibiotics or continue to watch and wait for one week.

Watching and waiting is a reasonable option because up to 75 percent of people with bacterial sinusitis improve within one month without antibiotics. During the watch and wait period, treatments to improve symptoms are recommended. (See “Initial treatment” above).

If symptoms worsen or do not improve after watching and waiting, treatment with an antibiotic is usually recommended. Treatments to relieve symptoms are recommended while using antibiotics. (See “Initial treatment” above).

Moderate or severe symptoms — Most healthcare providers will prescribe an antibiotic for moderate to severe symptoms (temperature >38.3º C or 101º F and/or severe pain that interferes with usual activities).

Treatments to relieve symptoms are also recommended during antibiotic treatment. (See “Initial treatment” above).

One of the least expensive and most effective antibiotics for sinusitis is amoxicillin. An alternate antibiotic will be prescribed if you are allergic to penicillin. Regardless of which antibiotic is prescribed, it is important to follow the dosing instructions carefully and to finish the entire course of treatment. Taking the medication less often than prescribed or stopping the medication early can lead to complications, such as a recurrent infection.

What if I do not improve with treatment? — If you do not improve or worsen after a course of antibiotics, you should be re-examined. Further testing, such as x-ray imaging or an exam of the inside of the sinuses may be recommended. (See “Acute sinusitis and rhinosinusitis in adults”).

In some cases, symptoms of sinusitis improve but then recur. This is usually because the infection was not completely eliminated by the antibiotic. An alternate antibiotic, extended antibiotic treatment, and/or further testing may be recommended, depending upon your individual situation.

WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION — Your healthcare provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem. Because no two people are exactly alike and recommendations can vary from one person to another, it is important to seek guidance from a provider who is familiar with your individual situation.

This discussion will be updated as needed every four months on our web site (www.uptodate.com/patients). Additional topics as well as selected discussions written for healthcare professionals are also available for those who would like more detailed information.

A number of web sites have information about medical problems and treatments, although it can be difficult to know which sites are reputable. Information provided by the National Institutes of Health, national medical societies and some other well-established organizations are often reliable sources of information, although the frequency with which they are updated is variable.

National Library of Medicine
(www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html)

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
(www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/sinusitis/)

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REFERENCES

1 Rosenfeld, RM, Andes, D, Bhattacharyya, N, et al. Clinical practice guideline: adult sinusitis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007; 137:S1.
2 Piccirillo, JF. Clinical practice. Acute bacterial sinusitis. N Engl J Med 2004; 351:902.
3 Ah-See, KW, Evans, AS. Sinusitis and its management. BMJ 2007; 334:358.
4 Tan, T, Little, P, Stokes, T. Antibiotic prescribing for self limiting respiratory tract infections in primary care: summary of NICE guidance. BMJ 2008; 337:a437.

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