Sinus Infections
A sinus infection involves a build up of mucus in the sinuses. Cold Viruses are the most common cause of sinusitis.
- Most sinus infections start after a cold. Your body fights the cold virus by making mucus which helps the virus out of your nose and sinuses. The lining of the sinuses swells and the mucus is partly blocked. This is called sinusitis.
- Smoking, allergies, overuse of nasal sprays, swimming, even changes in air pressure, can lead to sinusitis. When mucus is blocking a sinus passage, bacteria may start to grow.
- Bacterial infections can cause sinus pressure, pain around the eyes and fever. This is called acute bacterial sinusitis.
- A cold that starts to get better then gets worse may be a sign of acute bacterial sinusitis. Your health care provider may treat this kind of infection with an antibiotic.
What you can do:
- Drink more water. Sip hot liquids.
- Breathe moist air by using a humidifier or running a hot shower.
- Take ibuprofen (Advil) to relieve sinus pain or toothaches resulting from sinus pressure. Read the label for a child's dose.
- To relieve a congested nose, gently squirt salt water into the nose with a bulb syringe. Put moist hot towels on the face. Try a decongestant for 2-3 days.
Call your doctor or nurse if:
- you have a fever of higher than 39 degrees Celsius or 102 degrees Fahrenheit;
- you have trouble breathing;
after several days, you start feeling worse instead
of better; or
- you think there is something seriously wrong with your baby.