If a virus is to blame, you may have been contagious days before you got the sinus infection.
Killer Sinus Infection? How to Tell If Yours Is Viral or Bacterial
Nasal congestion and swelling, facial pressure, pain, fever, too much mucus. Ugh. It’s probably another sinus infection. Or is it? And is your infection caused by a virus or bacteria — and does it really matter?
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It does, says otolaryngologist Raj Sindwani, MD. Doctors treat viral and bacterial sinus infections very differently. Here’s what you need to know about both kinds of infections and how to treat them.
Viral or bacterial?
Sinusitis happens when your sinuses — the normally air-filled pockets in your face — become inflamed and blocked. Most sinus infections are viral. How can you tell whether your infection is viral or bacterial based on your symptoms?
“You can’t,” says Dr. Sindwani.
“Symptoms like bad breath, yellow or green mucus, fever and headache are not reliable signs of a bacterial infection,” he says. “They can occur with viral infections, too. Even your doctor can’t tell if your infection is viral or bacterial based solely on symptoms or an exam.”
Instead, your doctor looks largely at symptom duration to determine the source of your infection. A viral sinus infection will usually start to improve after five to seven days. A bacterial sinus infection will often persist for seven to 10 days or longer, and may actually worsen after seven days.
Some steps you can take
Whether your sinus infection turns out to be viral or bacterial, you can help to ease your symptoms early on with supportive sinus care:
- Use saline spray two to three times per day in each nostril.
- Use a nasal decongestant such as Afrin ® , but not longer than three days.
- Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid per day.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help relieve the swelling of your sinuses.
If your symptoms aren’t improving after one week, it’s important to see your doctor. If a bacterial infection is suspected, you’ll probably need to take an antibiotic to clear up the infection and prevent further complications.
“If your infections occur more frequently, and your doctor really wants to establish if they are bacterial or viral, your Otolaryngologist or ear, nose and throat doctor can sample the snot from your nose when you’re infected and send it to a laboratory to know for sure.
Note: Antibiotics won’t help a viral infection, and taking an antibiotic unnecessarily can do more harm than good. You risk possible side effects and increase your chances of developing antibiotic resistance, which can make future infections harder to treat, says Dr. Sindwani. So it’s important to wait and see how long your symptoms last.
What to do for chronic sinusitis
If you’re suffering from chronic sinusitis (nasal congestion, drainage, facial pain/pressure, and a decreased sense of smell lasting 12 weeks or longer) or you are getting frequent sinus infections you should see your doctor, says Dr. Sindwani.
Your doctor will swab your nose to collect mucus. Culturing it in a laboratory will reveal which type of bacteria is causing the infection so the right antibiotic can be prescribed.
Treat early sinus infection symptoms with rest, hydration and over-the-counter sprays and decongestants. But don’t look for an antibiotic unless your illness extends beyond a week, he says. Then check in with your doctor for a prescription and let him or her know if your condition worsens.
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Are Sinus Infections Contagious?
Sinus infections (sinusitis) can make it hard to breathe, and the pressure in your face can hurt. It can also make you cough and produce a lot of discharge. That may make you wonder if you could pass it on to someone else.
The answer is sort of. But it really depends on what caused it. And often you just don’t know.
Viruses
Most sinus infections are brought on by a virus. If that’s what happened to you, then yes, you can spread the virus that caused it but not the infection itself. Another person might get sick but may or may not get a sinus infection. Most of the time, these kinds of viruses cause colds, which may or may not lead to sinus infections.
Bacteria
Sometimes when the sinuses are blocked and filled with mucus, bacteria can grow and cause an infection. If your sinus infection lasts more than 10-14 days, you’re more likely to have bacterial sinusitis. If your infection is caused by bacteria, you can’t spread it.
Other Causes
Some people have chronic sinusitis, which lasts for at least 12 weeks. It’s often caused by allergies. Polyps (tissue growths in your nose) or a deviated septum (crooked wall between your nostrils) raise your risk.
Sometimes, tobacco smoke, dry air, or polluted air can also trigger sinusitis.
You may not know what is causing your sinusitis, so it’s best to avoid close contact with other people and to make an appointment with your doctor.
How Long Is It Contagious?
If a virus is to blame, you may have been contagious days before you got the sinus infection.
Most viruses can be spread for just a few days, but sometimes you could pass it on for a week or more.
How Is Sinusitis Spread?
You can get it the same way you get cold and flu — by breathing it in or passing it from your hands to your mouth after touching something. Viruses get in the air after someone who is sick sneezes or coughs. They also can be passed on when someone shakes hands with someone who is sick or touches a doorknob or anything else the sick person has touched.
To keep from getting a virus, wash your hands often with soap and water. Try not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth. Try to avoid people who have cold- and flu-like symptoms.
If you have sinusitis, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and wash your hands to avoid making anyone sick.
Show Sources
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: “Sinusitis Overview.”
CDC: “Sinus Infection (Sinusitis).”
Cleveland Clinic: “Acute Sinusitis.”
Columbia University, Go Ask Alice: “When are colds contagious?”
Common Colds: “Protect Yourself and Others.”
KidsHealth: “Common Cold.”
MayoClinic: “Acute Sinusitis,” “Chronic Sinusitis: Causes.”
Southern Methodist University: “Sinus Infection vs. the Common Cold.”
UptoDate: “Patient information: Acute sinusitis (sinus infection) (Beyond the Basics),” “Patient Information: Chronic rhinosinusitis (Beyond the Basics).”
DukeHealth: “Is it a bacterial infection or virus?”
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