9 symptoms of sinusitis (with online test)

The main symptoms of sinusitis are a feeling of heaviness in the face, especially when lowering the head, stuffy nose, constant headache, yellow or greenish phlegm, fever and loss of smell.

Sinusitis symptoms arise due to inflammation of the nasal sinuses and their intensity can vary according to the cause of the problem and each person’s general sensitivity.

In the presence of signs and symptoms of sinusitis, it is important that an otolaryngologist or general practitioner is consulted so that the cause can be identified and the most appropriate treatment can be initiated, which can be done with the use of medication and nasal washing. See more about sinusitis.

Sinusitis symptoms

The main symptoms of sinusitis are:

1. Pain in the face;
2. Feeling of heaviness in the face, especially when bending down;
3. Stuffy nose;
4. Yellow or greenish phlegm;
5. Loss of smell;
6. Fever;
7. Constant headache;
8. Bad breath;
9. Frequent coughing that worsens at night.

Furthermore, excess phlegm in the nose can lead to post-nasal drip, which is when phlegm drips down the throat, causing throat irritation, a scratchy throat sensation and clearing of the throat. See other causes of throat clearing.

In the case of babies or young children, to know if there is children’s sinusitis, one must be aware of the presence of nasal secretions accompanied by signs such as irritability, fever, drowsiness and difficulty breastfeeding, even for foods that the child usually likes.

Online symptom test

To find out your risk of having sinusitis, select the symptoms presented in the following test:

The symptom test is only a guidance tool and does not serve as a diagnosis or replace consultation with an otorhinolaryngologist or general practitioner.

How the diagnosis is made

To diagnose sinusitis, clinical evaluation by a general practitioner, pediatrician or ENT doctor is only necessary. Tests such as blood tests, X-rays and tomography are not necessary, but may be useful in some cases in which there is doubt about the diagnosis or cause of sinusitis. Find out more about the tests that can be done to confirm sinusitis.

According to the duration of the infection, sinusitis can be divided into:

• Acutewhen it lasts up to 4 weeks;
• Subacutewhen it lasts between 4 and 12 weeks;
• Chroniclewhen the duration is longer than 12 weeks, with microorganisms resistant to treatment, which can last for several years.

Acute sinusitis is the most common type, however subacute or chronic sinusitis can occur in cases of people with bacteria resistant to antibiotics, due to repeated and incorrect use of this type of medicine, or after periods of hospital stay or surgery, for example.

Chronic sinusitis can also occur in people who are prone to an accumulation of secretion in the sinuses, due to changes in the mucosa in the region or due to certain diseases that can thicken the mucus, such as cystic fibrosis.

Make an appointment with the nearest otorhinolaryngologist to evaluate your symptoms:

How to differentiate each type of sinusitis

The inflammation that causes sinusitis has several causes, such as:

1. Viral sinusitis

It happens most of the time, in around 80% of cases, due to a simple cold, and appears in people with symptoms of a runny nose, generally transparent or yellowish, but which can also turn greenish.

This type of sinusitis causes milder or more bearable symptoms and, when there is a fever, it usually does not exceed 38ºC. Furthermore, viral sinusitis may be accompanied by other viral symptoms, such as sore throat, conjunctivitis, sneezing and blocked nose.

2. Allergic sinusitis

The symptoms of allergic sinusitis are similar to those of viral sinusitis, however, it occurs in people who have had a recent attack of allergic rhinitis, or who have been exposed to situations that tend to cause sneezing and allergies in some people, such as intense cold, dry environments, stored clothes or old books, for example.

It is common for people who have an allergy attack to also have an itchy nose and throat, frequent sneezing and red eyes.

3. Bacterial sinusitis

Sinusitis caused by a bacterial infection occurs in only 2% of cases of this disease, and is usually suspected when there is a fever above 38.5ºC, severe pain in the face and purulent-looking discharge from the nose and throat, or when the symptoms, even if mild, they persist for more than 10 days.

4. Fungal sinusitis

Fungal sinusitis is usually present in people who have persistent sinusitis, which does not improve with treatment and the symptoms last for a long time. In these cases, the symptom may only be localized to one region of the face, and generally does not cause other symptoms such as discharge from the nose and fever.

Differentiating the causes is done by the doctor after clinical evaluation and physical examination, however, as they are similar, it may be difficult to identify the exact cause.

There are also other rarer causes, such as tumors, polyps, shocks or irritations from chemical products, which should be suspected by the doctor in specific situations in these cases.

What to do in case of sinusitis

In the presence of symptoms that indicate sinusitis, which are accompanied by fever, purulent discharge from the nose, and intense pain in the face, you should seek the attention of a general practitioner or ENT, who will recommend the appropriate treatment for the disease.

Generally, if there are only cold symptoms or symptoms that improve with home care within 7 to 10 days, it is recommended to use medication to alleviate symptoms, such as analgesics, anti-inflammatories or corticosteroids, as it is probably of viral or allergic sinusitis. Check out some recipes for natural remedies for sinusitis that can help alleviate symptoms.

However, if the symptoms are intense, with the presence of fever, or do not improve within 10 days, it may be necessary to use an antibiotic, such as Amoxicillin, recommended by the doctor. Find out what the main treatment options for sinusitis are.

See also home remedies that can help treat sinusitis: