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Green mucus from nose
Speaking with their nose
Headaches worsen in the morning
Face pain when I look down
Mucus drips into throat
Have a runny nose
Cough
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Sinusitis?
Infection of the sinuses, which are cavities around the nose and face. The infection can be acute (lasting about a week) or chronic (lasting more than three months). Most often infections start as a viral upper respiratory infection (URI) and then bacterial infection sets in. The symptoms include fever, facial pain or pressure, and nasal obstruction or drainage. Imaging including CT scans may be necessary.
Typical Symptoms of Sinusitis
- Discharge of yellow or green sputum.
- Nose pain
- The presence of foul-smelling nasal discharge
- Pain inside my cheeks, next to the nose and/or under the eyes
- Runny nose with yellow or green mucus
- Sudden, violent bursts of coughing
- Family history of Asthma, Eczema, Allergic rhinitis or Allergic conjunctivitis
- Allergies other than to food, metal or drugs
Diagnostic Questions for Sinusitis
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have yellow or green sputum?
- Is your nose painful?
- Do you have a bad smell with your runny nose?
- Do you have pain on the sides of your nose and under your eyes?
- Is your nasal mucus yellow?
Treatment of Sinusitis
Treatment depends on the duration and severity. Short courses of symptoms can be managed with nasal rinses, analgesics, and nasal steroid sprays. Symptoms lasting longer than a week may require oral antibiotics and/or even oral steroids. In chronic or recurrent cases, surgery may be necessary. Control of allergic rhinitis may be necessary as well. In children, surgery is often focused on removing adenoid tissues in lieu of doing surgery on the sinuses unless the infection extends outside the sinuses into the eye or brain.
Reviewed By:
Eric A. Gantwerker, MD, MMSC (Otolaryngology (ENT))
Pediatric Otolaryngologist at Northwell Health and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He holds a Master of Medical Science (MMSc) in Medical Education with a special focus on educational technology, educational research, and game-based learning from Harvard Medical School and a Master of Science in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University. He has a special interest in faculty development and has been a speaker or faculty at hundreds of local, national, and international courses and conferences. He is also an active blogger and podcaster for several organizations, including the Harvard Macy Institute (HMI), Harvard Medical School CME Online, and BackTable Innovations. He has been featured in the news and print for media outlets such as USA Today, Businesswire, The Washington Post, Nature Medicine, Fox News, and KevinMD. He was also the Vice President, Medical Director of a medical video game company, Level Ex from 2018 to 2023 that utilized game technology and psychology to create interactive experiences for healthcare professionals. | He is recognized as an expert on the implementation of educational technologies and gaming with a foundation in educational theory for health professions education. He was honored to be inducted as an Associate Member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators and as an Associate Fellow of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE).
Rohini R, MD (Otolaryngology (ENT))
Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Symptoms Related to Sinusitis
Diseases Related to Sinusitis
FAQs
Q.
Sinus Infection Relief: What Every Woman Over 65 Must Know
A.
Sinus infections are common after 65 and can be more uncomfortable or prolonged due to immune changes, drier nasal passages, chronic conditions, and certain medications; most cases still improve with hydration, saline rinses, warm compresses, rest, and cautious use of OTC pain relievers, while antibiotics are usually unnecessary unless symptoms exceed 10 days, are severe, or worsen after initial improvement. There are several factors to consider, including how to tell a cold from sinusitis, which medications to avoid, prevention tips, and urgent red flags like eye swelling, vision changes, severe headache, high fever, or confusion; see the complete guidance below for details that may affect your next healthcare steps.
References:
* Aftab F, Loehrl TA. Management of rhinosinusitis in the elderly. *Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology*. 2018 Feb 21;3(1):31-35. PMID: 29774351. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29774351/
* Orlandi RR, et al. International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis 2021. *International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology*. 2021 Mar;11(3):213-731. PMID: 33710732. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33710732/
* Chen W, et al. Chronic rhinosinusitis in the elderly: A systematic review. *American Journal of Otolaryngology*. 2021 Sep;42(5):103102. PMID: 34182285. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34182285/
* Soler Zuniga MA, et al. Pharmacotherapy for chronic rhinosinusitis: an update for clinicians. *Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy*. 2020 Jul;21(10):1153-1165. PMID: 32283995. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32283995/
* Baroody FM, et al. The aging nose: Clinical features and therapeutic challenges. *Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology*. 2022 Feb 1;22(1):3-9. PMID: 34812836. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34812836/
Q.
Sinus Infections in Seniors: Preventing Lung Complications
A.
Older adults with sinus infections face higher risks of bronchitis or pneumonia due to age-related immune changes, chronic conditions, and reduced cough strength. Prevention centers on hydration, clean humidified air, allergy control, safe saline rinses, staying up to date on flu and pneumonia vaccines, and early treatment of symptoms to protect the lungs. There are several factors to consider, including specific warning signs, how existing medications and lung disease affect care, and when to see a doctor or seek urgent help. See below for the complete details and step-by-step next actions that could influence what you do today.
References:
* Li Y, Zhou G, Wang C, Lu Y, Sun H, Xu R. Impact of chronic rhinosinusitis on pulmonary function in the elderly. J Geriatr Cardiol. 2014 Dec;11(4):307-11. doi: 10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2014.04.004. PMID: 25684903.
* Gengler I, Maniatis A, Ko R, Miller S, Chandra RK. Rhinosinusitis and respiratory disease: A comprehensive review. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018 Jan;120(1):31-37. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2017.10.027. Epub 2017 Nov 6. PMID: 29113940.
* Lu Y, Wang Q, Ma R, Zhou G, Fan J, Wang C. Correlation between chronic rhinosinusitis and pneumonia in the elderly. Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2017 Dec 7;52(12):917-920. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1673-0860.2017.12.006. PMID: 29284241.
* Su CY, Hsu YP, Lin SC, Chien CY. Association of chronic rhinosinusitis with increased risk of pneumonia in the elderly population: A nationwide population-based study. Clin Otolaryngol. 2018 Feb;43(1):153-158. doi: 10.1111/coa.12933. Epub 2017 Aug 10. PMID: 28726359.
* Soler ZM, Super J, Schlosser RJ. Management of chronic rhinosinusitis in the elderly. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018 Feb;26(1):12-16. doi: 10.1097/MOO.0000000000000424. PMID: 29215392.
Q.
What are the classifications of sinusitis?
A.
Sinusitis is considered acute if it lasts up to 4 weeks. It is considered chronic if symptoms persist beyond 12 weeks.
References:
DeBoer DL, Kwon E. Acute Sinusitis. [Updated 2023 Aug 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547701/
Kwon E, O'Rourke MC. Chronic Sinusitis. [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Weinberger M. Whither Sinusitis? Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2018 Aug;57(9):1013-1019. doi: 10.1177/0009922818764927. Epub 2018 Mar 22. PMID: 29562756.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0009922818764927Melén I. Chronic sinusitis: clinical and pathophysiological aspects. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl. 1994;515:45-8. doi: 10.3109/00016489409124323. PMID: 8067243.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/00016489409124323Tan R, Spector S. Pediatric sinusitis. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2007 Nov;7(6):421-6. doi: 10.1007/s11882-007-0064-5. PMID: 17986371.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11882-007-0064-5