Can You Have Body Aches With A Sinus Infection

How Do You Treat A Sinus Infection

When it comes to colds and regular, short-term, one-off sinus infections, you should be okay with over-the-counter medication coupled with plenty of rest and relaxation. As we mentioned earlier, however, if you have a bacterial sinus infection, you may need antibiotics.

Its important to remember that untreated sinus infections can cause more issues later down the line. These issues can negatively impact your sense of smell, eyesight, and even your brain. In other words, if your sinus infection does last more than 7-10 days, dont hesitate to visit your doctor. Its worth it in the long run.

However, one-time sinus infections vs. frequent, unrelenting sinus infections are what differentiates acute and chronic sinusitis.

Chronic sinusitis can last a few months and become a recurring theme in your life. If this is the case, you could end up requiring professional treatment such as balloon sinuplasty.

Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally-invasive procedure that takes less than 20 minutes. During this procedure, a tiny, endoscopic is inflated within your nasal passage. This process opens up your passages and allows for better drainage and long-lasting relief from sinusitis complications.

What Is Considered A Real Fever

Your normal body temperature sits somewhere in the 97 to 99 range. If you have a temperature of 100.4 or higher, you have a low-grade fever. A temperature higher than 103 is considered high and requires immediate medical attention.

With acute sinusitis, youll typically only see a low-grade fever. Fevers are not commonly a symptom of chronic sinusitis.

To treat a low-grade fever, you can try:

• Over the counter painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• Taking a warm bath
• Use cold compresses

Complications Of Chronic Sinusitis

Some people are troubled by frequent sinus infections, or continuous infection. Chronic sinusitis can linger for weeks or even months at a time. This can sometimes lead to serious complications, including infections in the bones and tissue near to the sinuses. Very rarely this infection can spread to the brain and the fluid around the brain. The person will be very ill and have swelling around the eyes.People with chronic sinusitis may have other problems which affect the nose, throat and ears at the same time, including:

• Middle ear infection and temporary deafness
• Post-nasal drip , which can lead to constant coughing, a sore throat and bad breath.

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How To Prevent A Cold From Turning Into A Sinus Infection

Recovering from a cold can leave you feeling frustrated, and the last thing you would want is the added worry of it turning into a sinus infection. This is because colds can weaken your immune system, making it easier for the sinus infection to take hold. To reduce the likelihood of your cold turning into a sinus infection, or to prevent a sinus infection, it is important to be proactive. Some tips include: 7,8

Keeping clean: avoid infections by keeping your hands clean. Do not touch your face unnecessarily and with unwashed hands

Avoid allergens: the last thing youd want is your allergies to flare up while you are having a cold. To ensure your cold is not aggravated, stay home, avoid allergy triggers, and allow yourself time to fully recover.

Avoiding pollutants: anyone can develop a sinus infection. However, those who suffer from allergies such as hay fever, and those who smoke or are in constant exposure to air pollutants like cigarette smoke, are more prone to experiencing irritation and inflammation in their lungs and nasal passageways.

Visiting the doctor if necessary: If your cold symptoms continue or worsen or you notice the signs of an infection beginning in your sinuses, consider a visit to the doctor. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medications or other treatments to prevent or treat the infection.

How Long Do Symptoms Last

Typically, a sinus infection clears up within 2 to 3 weeks. COVID-19 lasts for about a week or two depending on its severity and your overall health.

A 2020 study surveyed 270 outpatients with COVID-19. Among them, 175 people reported returning to their usual level of health about 7 days after a positive COVID-19 test.

Some symptoms like cough and loss of smell or taste may linger temporarily after COVID-19. Some people may experience long-haul COVID-19, a group of symptoms that persist in the weeks and months following an infection.

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Pain Or Pressure In Your Sinuses

Facial pain is a common symptom of sinusitis. You have several different sinuses above and below your eyes, as well as behind your nose. Any of these air-filled cavities can hurt when you have a sinus infection.

Inflammation and swelling can cause your sinuses to ache with dull pressure. This is because inflammation may alter the typical path of mucus from the nose to the back of the throat.

You may feel pain in:

• on either side of your nose
• in your upper jaws and teeth
• between your eyes

This may lead to a headache. Headaches caused by sinus infections can occur where the sinuses are or in other places.

Sinus Infection And Facial Pain

So, is your facial pressure or facial pain due to a sinus infection? Pain is a common sinusitis symptom. You have a few different sinuses below and above your eyes and behind your nose. When you have a sinus infection, these can hurt.

Swelling and inflammation make your sinuses ache with dull pressure. You might feel pain:

• On either side of your nose

• In your forehead

• Between your eyes

• In your teeth and upper jaw

The relentless sinus infection and facial pressure and sinus swelling can cause headache symptoms. Sinus pain can also give you:

• Pain in your cheeks and jaws

Sinusitis headaches are frequently worse in the morning since fluids have been gathering all night long.

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Find Relief From Sinus Infections At Kaplan Sinus Relief

At Kaplan Sinus Relief, we help people breath better every day with a variety of sinusitis treatment options, including balloon sinuplasty. We are here to answer questions like, Can you have a sinus infection without a fever? and more.

Whether you need to end all that snoring, repair a deviated septum, or end recurring sinusitis complications, we can help.

Give us a call today at 713-766-1818 or schedule an appointment online.

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What Is Chronic Sinusitis

Sinusitis is inflammation of your nasal or sinus passage. Chronic sinusitis is where you have chronic inflammation of your nasal or sinus passages that lasts for over 12 weeks at a time. If you experience more than four sinusitis episodes within a one-year period, its considered recurrent sinusitis.

Often, a bacterial infection causes it. In some cases, fungi and viruses cause it. Individuals with weak immune systems have a higher risk of developing a fungal or bacterial sinus infection. Some individuals who have allergies experience allergic fungal sinus infections.

Your sinuses are cavities filled with air. Theyre located:

• Behind your eyebrows and forehead

• Within your cheeks bony structure

• Behind your nose directly in front of your brain

• On both sides of the bridge of your nose

A sinus cavity infection close to your brain could become life-threatening if you dont have it treated. It could spread to your brain, in rare cases.

You normally have a thin layer of mucus that lines your sinuses and traps germs, dust and other particles in the air. Your sinuses have tiny hair-like projections that sweep the mucus towards openings leading to the back of your throat. It slides down to your stomach from there. This is a continuous process which is a normal body function.

Some individuals experience bodily defects contributing to sinus infection. Common defects include:

• Bony partition deformity between your two nasal passages

• Narrowing of your sinus openings

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Decreased Sense Of Smell And Taste

Congested sinuses will also affect your sense of smell. Breathing through your nose will be difficult, and you will be unable to smell as well as you usually do. Your sense of smell affects your ability to taste. While you will likely still be able to tell salty apart from sweet, food may taste somewhat bland when you have a sinus infection.

How Would Doctors Diagnose A Sinus Infection Vs Covid

The determination as to whether you have COVID or a sinus infection should be made by a doctor. If the doctor suspects COVID-19, he or she will test you for the virus by swabbing your sinus cavity and sending the sample to a lab.

When doctors suspect a sinus infection, they look inside the nose for redness and swelling and will ask you about the color and frequency of your nasal discharge. They will check to see if your face is tender and ask you questions about how long youve been suffering from the illness.

Dr. Chase suggest there are three primary criteria that indicate a sinus infection:

We dont usually diagnose a sinus infection until somebody has been sick for seven to 10 days. Typically, with that youre going to have the classic tenderness in your sinuses, he says. Usually youre going to have a yellow/green runny nose thats pretty consistent throughout the day, and youre going to have a fever. You want to see those three things before you diagnose somebody with a sinus infection.

With COVID-19, the duration of the illness is different, along with the sinus tenderness, and discharge. If youre worried about your symptoms and are suffering from pain, fever, headaches, or any other clinical symptoms, its a good idea to consult your doctor.

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What Decongestants And Nasal Sprays Soothe Or Cure Sinus Infections Or Sinusitis

Taking decongestants and mucolytics orally may be helpful in assisting drainage of sinus infection.

The treatment of chronic forms of sinus infection requires longer courses of medications, 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. In general, antihistamines should be avoided unless it is felt that the sinusitis sinus infection is due to allergies, such as 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 although both are occasionally used. Oral steroids may be prescribed to reduce acute inflammation and to help with chronic inflammation in cases with or without polyps and in allergic fungal sinusitis.

In many people, allergic sinusitis develops first, and later, bacterial infection occurs. For these individuals, early treatment of allergic sinusitis may prevent the development of secondary bacterial sinusitis.

In rare instances or in natural disasters, fungal infections may develop in debilitated people. Death rates of 50%-85% have been reported for patients with these sinus infections. Treatment relies on early diagnosis followed by immediate surgical debridement, antifungal drugs, , and stabilizing any underlying health problem such as diabetes.

Facial Pain Caused By The Heart

An electrocardiogram may be necessary to see if your heart is causing the issues.

For this test, small, painless electrode monitors are placed on your chest, arms, and legs. These monitors are connected to an ECG machine, which takes a reading of your hearts electrical activity.

This test is helpful in diagnosing a heart attack or abnormal heart rhythms.

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Can You Have A Sinus Infection With Clear Snot

But you can have perfectly clear mucus and have a terrible ear and sinus infection, Kao says. If you have an infection, youll likely also have other symptoms, such as congestion, fever and pressure in your face, covering the sinuses, Johns says. Multi-colored mucus is also related to the concentration of mucus.

Can seasonal allergies cause chills and sweats?

Sometimes chills, night sweats, and joint pain can accompany upper respiratory conditions, including nasal congestion, sinus infection, hay fever, or allergic reactions to indoor allergens.

Do you have body aches with a sinus infection?

Some people develop a fever with a sinus infection. Other symptoms associated with fever include chills, exhaustion, and muscle aches.

What are the symptoms of a sinus infection?

Other symptoms of a sinus infection may include loss of smell and taste, cough, congestion, fever, headache, fatigue, or upper jaw and tooth pain. Since viruses cannot be cured, cold treatment is primarily aimed at improving symptoms.

Can a sinus infection be worse than a cold?

Is it a cold or a sinus infection? If its a cold virus, you might find yourself near a box of tissues for several days. Most colds clear up on their own in 10 days or less. Colds bring an unpleasant mix of symptoms that can really wear you down. They may include: Because the common cold is a virus, antibiotics wont help.

Does A Sinus Infection Cause Fever

If youre trying to self-diagnose your symptoms, you might find yourself asking, does a sinus infection cause fever?

A fever is a common response to any type of infection in the body, including a sinus infection, but typically only if you have acute sinusitis. Sinusitis fever isnt a common symptom of chronic sinus infections.

Read more to learn about other sinus infection symptoms, what is considered a fever, how to tell the difference between a cold and a sinus infection, and why you shouldnt leave your chronic sinusitis untreated.

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When Is Face Pain An Emergency

If you experience facial pain that appears suddenly and radiates from the chest or the left arm, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately. This may be the sign of an impending heart attack.

Facial pain usually isnt a medical emergency, and you can often receive treatment at a regularly scheduled doctors appointment.

When visiting your doctor, make sure that you tell them:

• what part of your face is hurting
• how often you feel pain
• exactly where the pain is coming from
• what kind of pain you feel
• how long the pain lasts
• what relieves the pain
• any other symptoms experienced

Your doctor may order an imaging test, such as an X-ray or MRI scan to make a diagnosis. These imaging tests are useful in diagnosing problems within the bones, muscles, and tissue. Your doctor can also use an X-ray to check the sinuses.

Your doctor may take a blood sample to test for certain infections. This is a procedure with minimal pain that involves drawing blood from your arm.

If your symptoms reveal a possible eye condition or if your doctor is concerned you may be having heart problems, theyll order additional tests.

Treatment For Sinusitis From A Gp

If you have sinusitis, a GP may be able to recommend other medicines to help with your symptoms, such as:

• steroid nasal sprays or drops â to reduce the swelling in your sinuses
• antihistamines â if an allergy is causing your symptoms
• antibiotics â if a bacterial infection is causing your symptoms and you’re very unwell or at risk of complications

You might need to take steroid nasal sprays or drops for a few months. They sometimes cause irritation, sore throats or nosebleeds.

A GP may refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist if, for example, you:

• still have sinusitis after 3 months of treatment
• keep getting sinusitis
• only have symptoms on 1 side of your face

They may also recommend surgery in some cases.

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How Does Loss Of Smell Associated With A Sinus Infection Differ From That Of Covid

It is possible to lose your sense of taste or smell with a sinus infection or with COVID-19, says Dr. Glatter. With COVID-19, losing your sense of taste or sense of smell often occurs without experiencing any nasal congestion.

However, newer variants, such as Omicron, typically present with sore throat, hoarseness, congestion, aches, runny nose, fatigue, and possibly a dry cough. Loss of taste and smell was more typical with Delta and the original wild strain of SARS-CoV-2, says Dr. Glatter.

How To Tell The Difference

While both disorders include congestion on their list of symptoms, those with a sinus infection wont experience the other typical symptoms of COVID-19 such as body aches, nausea and shortness of breath.

It is also important to note that you can have both COVID-19 and a sinus infection as they are not mutually exclusive. Remember, what sets COVID-19 apart are the additional hallmark symptoms such as fevers, chills and a greater amount of fatigue. Loss of taste or smell, a common occurrence with COVID-19, is also rare in other types of illnesses and infections.

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When Should You Go To The Doctors For A Sinus Infection

If you have been suffering from frequent or chronic sinusitis, dont let it go untreated. Balloon Sinuplasty may be the best treatment option for you.

Dr. Kaplan and his staff at Kaplan Sinus Relief have a reputation for providing excellent balloon sinuplasty in Houston. The procedure is minimally invasive, done in-office, and helps with a variety of sinus issues for long-term relief.

Are you ready to put chronic sinusitis in your past? Request an appointment to see if balloon sinuplasty is the right treatment option for you.

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Which Is Worse: Sinus Infection Or Covid

Bacterial sinus infections very rarely cause deaths, and typically only for people with severe immune system issues. COVID-19 is an extremely infectious disease that affects everyone differently. Even otherwise healthy people can develop severe symptoms. Sinus infections are often only deadly in the face of significant immunocompromise, whereas COVID-19 has killed almost 1,000,000 people in the United States as of April, 2022, says Dr. Trenkle. The short answer is COVID.

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