Millions of Americans suffer from sinusitis. Sinusitis can be caused by various factors such as viral or bacterial infection, fungal infection or allergic reactions. Symptoms of sinusitis vary from person to person.

While one person may have all of the symptoms, someone else may have only one or two of them. It is to be noted that the symptoms of sinusitis are very similar to those of the common cold and only a doctor’s examination can determine the true cause. If a cold does not subside within 10 days, or if there is any fever, a doctor should be consulted.

If you experience a headache upon waking up in the morning, it may be due to sinusitis. If you experience pain when your forehead is touched, this may indicate sinusitis. If there is a constant pain in your upper jaw and teeth, it may be sinusitis.

If you experience tenderness in your cheeks, or if you have swollen eyelids, it may be sinusitis. If you experience pain between the eyes, it can be due to sinusitis.
Constant earaches, a stuffy nose, neck pain and aching at the top of the head may all be indicative of sinusitis. Other symptoms of sinusitis include fever, weakness, tiredness, cough that may be more severe at night, and runny nose or nasal congestion.

Drainage of mucus from the back of the throat (postnasal drip) can also be a symptom of sinusitis. Clear, thin discharge from the nose may be due to chronic sinusitis. On the other hand, thick yellow or green discharge from the nose, sometimes tinged with blood may be due to acute sinusitis. If you need to clear your throat frequently, it can be a symptom of sinusitis.

Itchy eyes and nose can also be a symptom of sinusitis.
Those suffering from sinusitis may experience reduced sense of smell and taste.

Some less common symptoms of sinusitis are:
• Swelling and tenderness behind the ear and ear popping
• Sore throat and hoarse voice caused by infected postnasal drip
• Severe headache with vomiting

To detect sinusitis, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and will examine parts of your face to locate any pain or swelling. If you have chronic sinusitis, it may be necessary to have further tests, including X-rays, MRI  or CT scans. Nasal endoscopy may also be used to diagnose chronic sinusitis.

This involves inserting an endoscope into the nostril to examine the inside of the sinuses. Your doctor watches a TV monitor to see the inside of your sinuses. Sinusitis is considered “acute” when a patient has sinus symptoms for two to three weeks or less. Sinusitis is considered “chronic” when symptoms have persisted for more than eight to 12 weeks.

Left untreated, chronic sinusitis can cause significant problems. It can lead to abscess around the eye, double vision, decreased movement of the eyeball, forehead swelling, blockage of the nose, brain abscesses, and even meningitis.

Untreated sinusitis can lead to asthma, bronchitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, pneumonia or other respiratory disorders.

Sinusitis Treatment Information