Allergy season and cold season overlap. For many patients, it’s hard to tell the difference between having the common cold or a sinus infection. Although both have similar symptoms, they also have some differences that can help a person determine how to treat the illness, before it turns into something worse. By diagnosing what you have quicker, the faster relief and recovery will come.
Colds
Colds usually last 10 days or less. Symptoms include: stuffy nose, buildup of mucus, sneezing, cough, sore throat, fatigue, swollen sinuses, a low-grade fever, and a headache.
For treatment, a cold can be treated with over-the-counter medications, but not antibiotics, because the common cold is a virus. Getting plenty of rest and fluids is also recommended to speed up the healing process.
Sinus Infection
A sinus infection is when a person’s nasal passages are infected or swollen. They can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and allergies; however, colds don’t cause sinus infections, but they can make it easier for a sinus infection to develop.
Sinus infection symptoms include: sinus pressure behind the eyes and cheeks, a stuffy and runny nose that lasts more than seven days, a bad headache, frontal tooth pain, fever, cough, bad breath, postnasal drip, fatigue, and a decreased sense of smell. Symptoms usually last longer than 10 days.
Like stated above, a cold can create a breeding ground for a sinus infection. A cold can cause swelling in the sinuses, which creates blockage and a buildup of mucus – this buildup is a sinus infection. Green and yellow mucus is common with a cold, but if it lasts more than a week, there’s a good chance it’s a sinus infection. A sinus infection can often times come after a cold.
Treatment
For a cold, people usually waits for symptoms to subside on their own. People often turn to over-the-counter medicines targeted at treating fevers, coughs, sour throats, and congestion. If a person thinks he or she has a sinus infection or may be on the verge of getting one, decongestants, sinus irrigations, and mucus thinners can help reduce swelling in the sinuses and nasal passages.
If symptoms aren’t going away, it’s best to get checked out by a physician to determine what is occurring. A doctor could prescribe antibiotics or steroids if symptoms aren’t going away after 10 to 14 of persistent to worsening symptoms, or suggest nasal sprays to get rid of mucus. Serious or repeated sinus infections will have to be treated with higher-doses of antibiotics or surgery may be needed.
If you’re unsure whether you have a cold or sinus infection or if you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms for an extended period of time, it’s time to call the doctor. Dr. Kordonowy at Internal Medicine, Lipids, and Wellness Practice of Fort Myers will be able to diagnose your symptoms and give you the proper treatment so you are feeling better as soon as possible. To contact him, call 239-362-3005, Ext. 200.
