subject: Why Do I Have Sinus Drainage - Is It Acute Sinusitis Or A Sinus Infection? Nurse's Guide [print this page] Often people aren't aware they're getting a sinus infection or already have one. One of the first signs they may have is thick yellow or greenish discharge or mucous going from the nasal passages down the back of the throat - sinus drainage. Acute sinusitis is simply inflamed sinuses and that can be caused by an inflammation or an infection, which will also leave the sinuses inflamed.
With acute sinusitis the sinus cavities become swollen along with the inflammation. This swelling causes an interference with your drainage and cause the mucus to build up. Medical experts call this acute rhinosinusitis. This mucous backs up because of the blockage. Ordinarily a quart or so of mucous, discharge or drainage would be moving through your nasal passages each and every day.
In some cases but not always you may have some difficulty breathing through your nose. The areas around your cheeks and jaws or forehead may be swollen or uncomfortable. And in some cases you may feel pressure or pain, have a sinus headache, which can affect the top of your head or you can feel pain behind the forehead. Sometimes you may feel like you have a toothache in your upper jaw.
In fact many people have gone to their dentists complaining of tooth pain when they actually had an infection in their sinuses. You may also find you can't taste your food or can't smell as well. You can have any or all of these symptoms. You don't have to have them all to have acute sinusitis or a sinus infection. Other possible acute sinusitis or sinus infection symptoms include bad breath, ear pain, and fatigue, achiness, tired all over feeling, and possibly a fever or a temperature as some like to call it.
Most cases of acute sinusitis or sinus infections are due to fungal infections. Also this can happen after you get a cold. You can get an infection or inflammation from mold in your house, allergies, dust, dust mites leavings, smoke, fumes and particles that get up into your sinus cavities.
If you have a full blown sinus infection one of the sinus symptoms you can usually expect is yellowish discharge, mucous or find yellow or sometimes greenish lumps in your drainage. Green lumps could mean another type of infection such as a bronchial infection or a lung infection. But if they are yellow lumps then you can be pretty sure you have a sinus infection.
To get rid of excessive sinus drainage, a sinus infection or acute sinusitis use natural home treatments and remedies. Antibiotics don't work for sinus infections as a rule for many reasons. Avoid drugs and do natural sinus treatments at home.
