Acute Sinusitis
Acute sinusitis causes pressure, congestion, nasal discharge, and facial pain. Many cases start with a viral illness.
Symptoms
Symptoms can include nasal congestion, facial pressure, thick drainage, headache, reduced smell, and cough.
Causes and risk
A cold, allergies, and nasal swelling can block sinus drainage and lead to infection.
How it is evaluated
We look at symptom duration and severity to decide whether this is more likely viral or bacterial.
Treatment
Treatment may include saline rinses, nasal sprays, pain relief, and in select cases antibiotics.