Symptoms of Sinus Infection

Symptoms of bacterial sinusitis typically include sinus congestion, sinus discharge, sinus pressure, cough, bad breath, lose of sense of smell, fatigue, fever and facial pain or headaches from sinus pressure.

Signs and symptoms of sinus infections depend upon which sinuses are affected and whether the sinus infection is acute or chronic.

Acute sinusitis:
•Ethmoid sinusitis (behind the eyes)
◦Nasal congestion with discharge or postnasal drip (mucus drips down the throat behind the nose)
◦Pain or pressure around the inner corner of the eye or down one side of the nose
◦Headache in the temple or surrounding the eye
◦Pain or pressure symptoms worse when coughing, straining, or lying on the back and better when the head is upright

•Maxillary sinusitis (behind the cheek bones)
◦Pain across the cheekbone, under or around the eye, or around the upper teeth
◦Pain or pressure on one side or both
◦Tender, red, or swollen cheekbone
◦Pain and pressure symptoms worse with the head upright and better by reclining
◦Nasal discharge or postnasal drip
◦Fever common

•Frontal sinusitis (behind forehead, one or both sides)
◦Severe headaches in the forehead
◦Fever common
◦Pain worse when reclining and better with the head upright
◦Nasal discharge or postnasal drip

•Sphenoid sinusitis (behind the eyes)
◦Deep headache with pain behind and on top of the head, across the forehead, and behind the eye
◦Fever common
◦Pain worse when lying on the back or bending forward
◦Double vision or vision disturbances if pressure extends into the brain
◦Nasal discharge or postnasal drip

Chronic sinusitis:
•Ethmoid sinusitis
◦Chronic nasal discharge, obstruction, and low-grade discomfort across the bridge of the nose
◦Pain worse in the late morning or when wearing glasses
◦Chronic sore throat and bad breath
◦Usually recurs in other sinuses

•Maxillary sinusitis
◦Discomfort or pressure below the eye
◦Chronic toothache
◦Pain possibly worse with colds, flu, or allergies
◦Increased discomfort throughout the day with increased cough at night

•Frontal sinusitis
◦Persistent, low-grade headache in the forehead
◦History of trauma or damage to the sinus area

•Sphenoid sinusitis
◦Low-grade general headache common