Are Sinus Infections Contagious? What to Know About Sinus Infection Symptoms
The facial pressure. The stuffy nose. The run-down “blah” feeling.
No one wants to deal with the pain and frustration of a sinus infection (sinusitis) or sinus infection symptoms. But are sinus infections contagious? Can you catch one from your coworker or family member?
The answer depends upon whether or not your sinus infection is viral or bacterial. We’ll take a look at sinus infections, sinus infection symptoms and how to get rid of a sinus infection.
Are Sinus Infections Contagious?
Before we can delve into the answer, let’s take a look at the differences between a viral and a bacterial infection.
A viral sinus infection itself is not contagious, but you can pass the virus along to others. That person would then be at risk for developing a cold or sinus infection symptoms.
A bacterial sinus infection is caused by bacteria, and it is not contagious. However, it’s important to note that most sinus infections are caused by a virus. This is why antibiotics should be used only when it is clear the cause is bacterial.
Sinus infections can also be caused by fungi, and these are not contagious.
How Can I Tell If I Have a Bacterial or Viral Sinus Infection?
The key is its duration. You can’t tell from sinus infection symptoms alone.
Viral infections tend to improve after five-to-seven days. However, bacterial infections can linger for seven-to-ten days or even longer. Bacterial infections also tend to get worse over time.
How to Get Rid of a Sinus Infection
Most sinus infections are viral, and as a result, have to “run their course.” Most of these can be easily managed by home care, which includes getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids, taking over-the-counter medication and using saline solutions to rinse the sinuses.
If you have questions about how to best manage your sinus infection or sinus infection symptoms, contact our internal medicine physicians in Cary who will be glad to assist you.
If you find that you have continual, chronic infections, you should consider allergy testing and treatment. Often, this allows us to address the underlying problem and dramatically reduce your chances of developing a sinus infection.
What Are the Symptoms of a Sinus Infection?
Sinus infection symptoms may vary slightly from person to person, but the main indicators of sinusitis include:
- Postnasal drainage
- Yellow or green mucus from a runny nose
- Congestion
- Pain or tenderness around the eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead
- Facial pain that gets worse after bending over
- Headaches
- Toothaches
- Pressure in the ears
- Problems with your sense of smell
- Fever (in certain cases)
Important Note About Sinus Infection Symptoms and COVID-19
Cary Medical Group screens patients with respiratory symptoms on a case-by-case basis to determine if COVID-19 testing, a telehealth visit or in-house visit is most appropriate. Cary Medical Group offers COVID-19 PCR testing in our convenient drive-through clinic.
Cary Medical Group Provides Assistance for Those With Chronic Sinus Infection Symptoms
In most cases, a sinus infection will easily go away on its own after home care and over-the-counter medication. However, if you find that sinus infections are increasingly becoming a part of your life, then you should contact our internal medicine doctors in Cary to explore the benefits of allergy testing or immunotherapy.
See why we have been the provider of choice for the Cary and Triangle area for more than 25 years. We welcome the opportunity to be your medical home. Schedule an appointment with us today.
For more than 25 years, Cary Medical Group has served as the Triangle area’s premier internal medicine provider. We tailor our treatments to provide the finest personalized health care available for each stage of your adult life. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
