What Are Some Sinus Infection Causes
Sinus cavities are the empty areas around our eyes and nose. They help us to manage the air we breathe and help our ability to speak, breathe, and sing. Our sinus cavities are where our mucus is produced and where sinus infections occur.
The mucus in our sinus cavities trap things like mold, bacteria, viruses and dirt. When working correctly our mucus traps the foreign substances and our bodies drain it out so that it can not make us sick. Sometimes however, the trapped substances will cause our bodies to react with swelling and inflammation. The mucus then gets trapped due to the swelling and an infection develops.
Bacterial Or Staph Nose Infection
Why are bacterial cases common? Almost everyone carries the staph bacteria in the nose or on the skin surface. Under favorable conditions, the bacteria multiply leading to an infection.
The bacterial strain Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause. Most cases caused by S. aureus are secondary. Infections occur after colds, flu or when the nasal membranes become viable hence cannot filter out germs and foreign stuff.
Bacterial caused cases of nose or staph can produce localized signs or as inside-body symptoms in the case of invasive infections, i.e. when it attacks internal body organs.
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Is Your Sinus Infection Viral Or Bacterial
Getting a sinus infection is uncomfortable. The biggest question is whether your infection is caused by a virus or bacteria. This distinction is important because if it’s caused by bacteria, you probably need antibiotics to resolve it. If it’s viral though, you can focus on managing your symptoms with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medicine.
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Use Humidifiers Within The Home
Wherever you can, keep your sinuses moist. When they dry out, the pressure feels worse, and you can suffer more symptoms, such as dizziness and headaches. Humidifiers are the easiest and quickest way to keep your sinuses moist throughout the day, especially when you are in the home. They help to add moisture to the air, regardless of the temperatures and humidity outside. If you live in an area known for dry heat, you will want to consider a humidifier for other reasons. They are excellent for keeping the skin moist and supporting the heat of the rest of your body.
Keep the humidifiers running throughout the night. This is often when most people experience drier temperatures and need the help. You can avoid waking up with the feeling that you have been in the sauna.
If you cannot use a humidifier for any reason, you will need to consider your other options to keep your sinuses moist and clear. One of the best options is a nasal saline spray.
Most people will think of the pharmaceutical options, but they are not necessary. You can make your own with just some filtered or pre-boiled water. You will want to make sure the toxins and minerals are removed from the water before using it as a saline spray.
Dont use the saline mixtures within the ears. You can cause damage to your hearing. Only opt for ear saline treatments when used by a trained professional.
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Types Of Viral Sinus Infection
A viral sinus infection is most often caused by a common cold, which can infect the lining of the ear, nose, and throat, and inflame the sinuses. There are more than a hundred different viruses that cause colds, the most common of which are rhinoviruses. Some other viruses that can cause sinus infections can include influenza viruses and parainfluenza viruses. Viruses, especially cold viruses, can change the mucus in the nose and cause nasal tissues to swell, blocking the sinuses.
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Signs You Have A Sinus Infection
Posted in Nose | January 14, 2022
Are you experiencing pressure around your nose, forehead, and eyes? Does your face feel like its overly full?
These are some of the more common signs of having a sinus infection. Your sinuses are tiny, empty spaces that connect the inside of your nose.
Theyre found behind your forehead and cheekbones. When you have a sinus infection, the lining of your sinuses swells up. The swelling of the lining of your sinuses prevents mucus from draining down your throat and nose properly. Factors that increase your risk of developing a sinus infection are:
Other telltale signs of a sinus infection include:
Signs And Symptoms Of Sinus Infections
The hallmark symptoms of acute sinus infections are nasal congestion and blockage, a nasal discharge that is thick with a yellow to green coloration, decreased sense of smell, and a feeling of pain, pressure, or fullness in the face.
Other symptoms may include:
- Ear pressure or fullness
It may be difficult to tell if a child, especially one of infant or toddler age, has a sinus infection or a simple cold or allergies. Signs of sinus infections in children include irritability, breathing through the mouth, difficulty feeding, and nasally speech.
Itâs recommended that you see a doctor if your symptoms last more than 10 days, as it may mean you have a bacterial sinus infection, which should be treated with antibiotics.
You should also see a doctor if your symptoms are severe or continue to worsen , you have multiple infections within a year, or you experience additional symptoms, such as confusion, vision problems, and stiff neck.
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Difference Between Bacterial And Viral Sinus Infections
Sinus infections are either bacterial or viral, and the differences are difficult for sufferers to figure out. The two types differ in the following ways:
Sinus Infections Bacterial: A bacterial infection is an infection that enters the body through the spread of bacteria. Bacteria spread by touch, bodily fluid transfer or air transfer. These infections will generally last for at least ten days and may actually get worse after the initial week of onset of the infection.
Sinus Infections Viral: A viral infection is an infection that enters the body through a virus. Viral infections are spread the same way as bacterial infections. The difference is that the viral infection will start to improve after 5 to 7 days of the initial onset of the symptoms.
There is no definitive way for a doctor to determine if you have a bacterial or viral sinus infection based on symptoms alone. The way that the type of infection that you have is determined will generally be how long the infection lasts. If its a shorter duration, it was likely a viral infection, and if it was a longer duration, as in a couple of weeks or longer, it was likely a bacterial infection.
The symptoms of both bacterial and viral infections will be similar, including the symptoms bad breath, yellow/green mucus, fever, and headaches are not even reliable signs of what type of infection you have, as both bacterial and viral infections share many of the same symptoms.
Diagnosis And Testing Of Fungal Sinusitis
To evaluate for the presence of fungal sinusitis, your healthcare provider will examine your head and neck using a nasal endoscope .
While computed tomography scans are used in most cases to check for the degree of invasion, magnetic resonance imaging scans are the preferred method for IFS cases, as they can identify growth in soft tissue.
A sample of mucus or pus in the nose may also be taken and sent to the lab to check for the presence of fungi. This procedure is commonly performed in NFS cases in which fungi do not invade the bloodstream.
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Is My Stomach Bug Bacterial Or Viral
When you experience symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, or abdominal cramps, you likely have a stomach bug. But is it due to a viral or bacterial infection?
Stomach bugs generally fall into two categories based on how theyre acquired:
- Gastroenteritis is an infection of the digestive tract. Its caused by coming into contact with stool or vomit from a person with the infection, usually as a result of poor hand hygiene or hand-to-surface contact.
- Food poisoning is an infection of the digestive tract caused by consuming contaminated food or liquids.
Gastroenteritis and food poisoning can be caused by both viruses and bacteria. Regardless of the cause, many times your symptoms will go away in 1 or 2 days with good home care.
However, symptoms that last longer than 3 days, cause bloody diarrhea, or lead to severe dehydration may indicate a more severe infection that requires prompt medical treatment.
When To Seek Medical Care
See a doctor if you have:
- Severe symptoms, such as severe headache or facial pain.
- Symptoms that get worse after improving.
- Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without getting better.
- Fever longer than 3-4 days.
You should also seek medical care if you have had multiple sinus infections in the past year.
This list is not all-inclusive. Please see a doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning.
Other conditions can cause symptoms similar to a sinus infection, including:
- Seasonal allergies
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Are Sinus Infections Contagious
Sinus infections are among the most common health problems that Americans face, causing uncomfortable sinus pressure, congestion, headaches and other annoyances that can linger for weeks and make it difficult to function normally. Understandably, many people wonder if sinus infections are contagious or not. Heres the answer to this question: it depends!
A sinus infection can be caused by a virus, bacteria or fungi, although most infections are associated with viruses. If a virus is to blame for your sinus infection, then it is contagious and can potentially be transmitted to others. Viral sinus infections often develop as a result of the common cold, so it is more likely that youll spread the cold instead of a sinus infection.
Fungal and bacterial sinus infections, on the other hand, are not contagious, but these types of infections are uncommon. If you have a sinus infection, its best to assume that it is viral and take as many precautions as you can, like staying home from work or school.
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Diagnosing A Sinus Infection
Since you cant tell if an infection is viral or bacterial just from looking at the symptoms, your surgeon will most likely run a few tests to diagnose the problem before recommending treatment. Diagnosing the infection can involve imaging to examine the sinuses and a mucus culture. Taking a sample of mucus from the nose or sinuses will help your surgeon determine if a bacteria is to blame and, if so, what type of bacteria is responsible. Knowing the type of bacteria thats causing your infection allows your surgeon to prescribe the type of antibiotic that would be most effective in treating it.
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What Is Bacterial Sinus Infection
A bacterial sinus infection is a disease caused by bacteria, and it will affect our bodies in the nose area and will create sinus problems as well. It is mainly caused by bacteria.
You have the usual normal symptoms like body pain which happens due to tiredness and fever. But mostly, it will affect your face area, and you will have more pain in your face.
Because the bacteria will mainly attack your nose area, and you will face immense pain in your nose.
It can be treated only when you visit a doctor. No home remedies will help you in this because we are not sure at what stage we are at, and only the doctor will decide the type of medicine by seeing our condition.
If it is not that vulnerable, then it can be cured with the help of a tablet or an injection. But if the condition is worse, then we have to perform some surgery to remove those bacteria.
If you have good antibodies, then it will go away without any treatment, but the pain and the disease will usually last a month. It is better to take a treatment instead of making it become worse and increasing our pain.
These infections cannot be spread from you to another person. If you get this, then you are the only person to suffer from this and not the other people.
How Are Bacterial And Viral Sinusitis Diagnosed
Although most cases are viral, its important to appropriately identify whether your sinus infection is viral or bacterial. Differentiating between the two often comes down to the duration and severity of their symptoms. When meeting with a patient who has sinusitis, I first ask about their health history, as well as what their symptoms are and how long theyve had them. More tests arent usually needed, though if a patient has had several bouts of acute sinusitis the following tests might be used:
- CT scan: A CT scan can show more information regarding your sinuses and nasal cavity.
- Nasal endoscopy: A nasal endoscopy is a procedure where a doctor places a thin tube with a camera into the nasal cavity and sinuses. It can show whether a blockage is responsible for the symptoms, such as a tumor or polyp. A culture can show which type of bacteria is causing the infection, and the best antibiotic to treat it.
The Infectious Disease Society of Americas clinical practice guidelines state that a sinus infection is likely bacterial in nature if the following are present:
Did You Know?
Distinguishing an upper respiratory infection from viral sinusitis is challenging. 20-40% of children diagnosed with viral sinusitis most likely just have a URI, according to this study.
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Best Treatments For Bacterial Sinusitis Vs Viral Sinusitis
Sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinuses thats caused by either a viral or bacterial infection. It typically occurs when you have too much mucus or your sinuses become blocked and mucus isnt able to properly drain. This can cause bothersome symptoms that can sometimes linger.
In order to treat your sinusitis in the most effective manner, a doctor may try to identify which type you have. The vast majority of sinus infections are caused by viruses.
In this blog, the board-certified specialists at DFW Sinus Select will explain the best treatments for bacterial sinusitis vs. viral sinusitis.
Eye Mucus At Night And After Waking Up
Eye mucus is described as thick, yellow discharge that forms in the corners of the eye. Often settling into a hard crust on the eyelid and lashes, mucus in eye can also be more pus-like, with green, liquid discharge leaking from the eye.
Most commonly, mucus builds overnight while you are sleeping, and it seeps out of your eye throughout the night. In more extreme cases, you might even wake up being unable to open your eyes. If you have an eye infection, such as conjunctivitis, mucus will continue to seep from the eye throughout the day.
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Can Allergies Cause Fatigue And Brain Fog
The answer to the questions, Can allergies cause fatigue? and, Can allergies cause brain fog? are very intertwined. Brain fog confusion and a lack of mental clarity is technically a symptom of a symptom the combination of tiredness and swollen nasal passages caused by allergies can lead to brain fog.
Visit Your Local Allen Park Sinus Specialists Today
If you have been experiencing a sinus infection that has lasted over ten days, visit our Allen Park or Southfield, Michigan offices. Our sinus specialists can help you with your sinusitis with treatments like balloon surgery, sinus drops, or nasal steroids. Our team is here for you with whatever you need, so anytime to ask us a question or to make an appointment.
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Can I Get Over A Sinus Infection Without Antibiotics
Antibiotics and sinus infections Antibiotics have no effect on viruses and arent recommended within the first week of developing a cold. About 70% of sinus infections go away within two weeks without antibiotics.
How can you tell if sinus infection is viral or bacterial?
A viral sinus infection will usually start to improve after five to seven days. A bacterial sinus infection will often persist for seven to 10 days or longer, and may actually worsen after seven days.
How can you test for sinus infection at home?
Common symptoms of sinusitis include:
When do I really need antibiotics for a sinus infection?
antibiotics if a bacterial infection is causing your symptoms and youre very unwell or at risk of complications You might need to take steroid nasal sprays or drops for a few months.
Can I Treat A Sinus Infection At Home
If you have a true sinus infection, you will eventually need to visit a medical professional. But in the early stages you can help ease your symptoms with one or more of these treatments:
Remember that at-home treatments should be discontinued if symptoms arent improving. A timely visit to the urgent care can help speed recovery and get you feeling better quickly.
If you are in need of sinus infection treatment and your regular doctor is unavailable, make a visit to M.D. Express Urgent Care. With 6 convenient locations open 7 days a week, The Doctor is Always In!
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