Treatments That Might Help Your Sinus Infection

If you have a sinus infection, you probably have pain or pressure under your eyes or in the cheek areas of your face. You could have a stuffy nose along with nasal drainage. The infection may even drain into the back of your throat and make you need to clear your throat or cough frequently. A bad sinus infection can be quite painful and uncomfortable. Here are some possible treatments your doctor might recommend.

Sinus Infection Caused By A Cold

A common reason for a sinus infection is a cold or an upper respiratory tract infection. This type of infection usually clears up on its own in several days as you recover from the cold. Since these infections are usually caused by a virus, your doctor probably won't prescribe antibiotics. Instead, you might consider over-the-counter cold medications that decrease nasal stuffiness. In addition, your doctor might recommend the use of a nasal spray or a neti pot so you can flush mucus out of your nose and breathe more freely.

Sinus Infection Caused By An Allergy

Allergies can also cause a sinus infection. Allergies can cause your sinuses to fill with secretions and become inflamed. If allergies cause you to have frequent sinus infections, your doctor may recommend that you be tested for allergies so you can avoid triggers that cause your symptoms. You may even need to undergo allergy treatments or use over-the-counter antihistamine products to control your symptoms so your nasal passages and sinuses can heal.

Sinus Infection Of Unknown Cause

Sometimes the cause of a sinus infection is not clear. You may have an infection that doesn't clear up for months, or it may come and go for a long period of time. In that case, your doctor may recommend testing to try to find the cause. A sinus infection is often caused by a virus, but it can also be caused by bacteria or a fungus. Taking a swab of the secretions in your nose helps the doctor pinpoint the type of sinus infection you have. You may also need to have the inside of your nose examined with a scope. This helps your doctor find polyps or other abnormalities that cause you to have chronic sinus infections. The treatment your doctor chooses could be antifungal medications if indicated or surgery to remove polyps.

Sinus infections can be frustrating when they become chronic and cause frequent problems with pain and congestion. Seeing your doctor to uncover the cause is an important step in bringing your symptoms under control. Some home treatments you can try for pain and congestion include applying warm cloths over the painful areas of your face, sleeping with a humidifier in the room, and using a nasal spray with saline. However, you should avoid using decongestant nasal sprays without advice from your doctor as these can make your condition worse if you use them more than a few days.