Sinusitis, commonly known as a sinus infection, is an inflammation of the sinuses, which are air-filled spaces in the skull located behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes. Sinus infections can have many causes, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, nasal polyps, allergies, and structural problems within the sinuses. Some people with allergies can have “allergic fungal sinus infection” . A sinus infection can happen after a cold or allergy flare-up, which inflames the nasal passages and blocks the opening of the sinuses, leading to infection. When mucus drainage is blocked, bacteria may start to grow, leading to a sinus infection.

The most common cause of sinusitis is a viral infection, such as the common cold. Bacteria can cause sinusitis, or they can infect you after a case of viral sinusitis. If you have a runny nose, stuffy nose, and facial pain that don’t go away after ten days, you might have bacterial sinusitis. Your symptoms may seem to improve but then return and are worse than the initial symptoms. Antibiotics and decongestants usually work well on bacterial sinusitis.

Risk factors for sinusitis include a previous cold, seasonal allergies, smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke, structural problems within the sinuses, and a weak immune system or taking drugs that weaken the immune system. Some people have bodily defects that contribute to sinus infection, such as deformity of the bony partition between the two nasal passages, nasal polyps, or a deviated nasal septum.

Common symptoms of sinus infections include a runny nose, stuffy nose, facial pain or pressure, headache, mucus dripping down the throat (post-nasal drip), sore throat, cough, and bad breath. If you have a sinus infection that lingers and youre running a high fever or youre in a lot of pain, you should see a doctor, who may prescribe antibiotics...