Knowing Bacterial Sinus Infection Symptoms

When your runny nose or cough refuses to go away, your sense of smell and taste are bad, when you have bad headaches, you could be suffering from sinusitis. Ninety percent of all cases of sinus are caused due to bacteria. The membrane of the sinus cavity becomes red, tender or inflamed. Bacterial sinus infection symptoms vary from fever to facial pain and tenderness.

Whenever a person has a cold or fever i.e. a viral infection, the membrane of the sinus cavity becomes inflamed. This blocks the passage of mucous from the sinus membrane to the nasal cavity. A mucous filled sinus cavity is an ideal ground for bacteria to breed.

In the beginning, bacterial sinus infection symptoms are very similar to those of a common cold. If they continue for over five to seven days, a doctor should be consulted. Though sinus is easy to diagnosis, some doctors also use CT Scans or X-Rays to confirm the occurrence of sinus infection.

Bacterial sinus infection symptoms normally last for about seven to ten days. They can go up to three months if it turns chronic. Sinusitis is very common in children. Children who have greenish nasal discharge are often suspected to have sinus. People with allergies are also prone to sinus.

Though sinusitis can easily be cured by usage of medicines such as decongestants and anti- inflammatory drugs, a surgery may also be required at times. Bacterial sinus infection symptoms may also include temporary blindness, double or blurred vision.

There are several ways of preventing sinus. Using a humidifier, cleaning the nose properly can prevent this disease. People who are prone to allergies should make sure that they take medication as soon as the allergy occurs. Decongestants should be used in case of colds. It has been observed that people who smoke or live in smoky environments have greater chances of contracting sinus than people living in a smoke free environment.

Almost all cases of sinus are caused by bacteria. They may be caused by allergens also. Bacterial sinus infection symptoms should never be ignored. Medical help should be taken at the first sign of such symptoms.