A sinus infection is a common medical condition that is also known as sinusitis or rhinosinusitis. It occurs when the nasal cavities become swollen, infected, and inflamed. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology [1], the infection affects 31 million people in the United States of America every year.
The sinuses are tiny air pockets behind the forehead, cheekbones, and nose. It’s found in between the eyes, and it produces mucus, which protects the body by trapping and moving germs away. A virus often causes sinusitis, and it remains after the upper respiratory symptoms leave.
There are two major types of a sinus infection: acute, subacute, and chronic sinusitis. Acute sinusitis has the shortest period, and its symptoms last for one to two weeks in most cases. However, the subacute sinusitis symptoms occur for up to three months, and the chronic condition extends beyond three months.
For immediate and effective treatment, it’s important to know some of the signs of sinus infection [2]. Here are six of the significant sinus infection signs:
Nasal Discharge
When an individual has a sinus infection, they may need to blow their noses due to nasal discharge. The discharge from the nose could be green, cloudy, or yellow, and it comes from the infected sinuses. In a sinus infection, the nasal discharge drains into the nasal passages.
In some individuals, the nasal discharge could drain down back to the throat without meeting the nose. People with this condition could feel a sore throat, tickle, and an itch. This condition is also called the postnasal drip, and it could result in coughing when lying down to sleep and when waking up.
Apart from a sinus infection, the nasal discharge could be from a common cold or flu and allergies. In common cold cases, the condition occurs due to a viral infection in the throat and nose. When an individual inhales, eats, or touches some substances, it could lead to allergies that cause a nasal discharge.