subject: How To Tell If You Have A Sinus Infection Or Sinusitis Or Both - Nurse's Guide [print this page] If you've been suffering from sinus symptoms you may be wondering if you have sinusitis or a full blown sinus infection. Often people don't realize they have an infection that has sneaked up on them until it's taken a good hold.
If you've noticed any of the following symptoms such as facial pain or pressure, nasal stuffiness, nasal discharge, loss of smell, a slight cough, congestion, dental pain in the upper teeth, bad breath, headaches, fatigue or a slight sore throat you may be suffering from sinusitis, which is simply an inflammation of the sinuses. An inflammation of the sinuses can include sinus infections.
You can have sinusitis without having a sinus infection but if you have a sinus infection then you have sinusitis. The most common causes of sinusitis are smoking and infections. The most common infections are caused by fungus spores. Usually simple household mold spores can do it.
There are different types of sinusitis. The most common type is acute sinusitis which includes a stuffy or congested nose or facial pain, for example, that continues after a week or so. It can last up to a month. Any time you have yellow discharge or mucus coming from your nose or you're spitting it up you can be sure you have a sinus infection. You may also have white or green discharge and not have a sinus infection.
If you have sub acute sinusitis it is an inflammation that lasts from two to four months. If you have chronic sinusitis you'll have inflammation symptoms for more than a month. And it's called recurrent sinusitis when you have several sinus attacks a year.
You may suffer from sinusitis or get an infection when your normally air-filled sinus cavities fill with fluid that is blocked from proper sinus drainage. This hardens and causes a blockage that has to be removed in order to drain properly. Germs thrive in this environment whether caused by bacteria not usually), viruses or fungi.
These sinus blockages, swelling and inflammation can happen after a common cold or exposure to allergens such as dust, dust mite droppings, pollen, chemical fumes, perfume, cologne, smoke, etc.
Less common causes of sinusitis are nasal polyps which are small growths in the lining of the nose or a deviated nasal septum, which is a nasal cavity shift. But these can lead to chronic sinusitis and a recurring sinus infection. No matter if you have acute or chronic sinusitis or a sinus infection with one or many symptoms you can cure yourself of sinus problems and get fast pain relief just doing some simple natural home remedies.
