Have you ever wondered, are sinus infections contagious? If so, how long does a sinus infection last? Let’s dive into the details of this year round stuffy dilemma!

The Dreaded Sinus Infection

While not uncommon, sinus infections (also referred to as sinusitis) are one of the most miserable illnesses one can experience. Sinus infections are a result of inflamed nasal passages due to excessive mucus buildup, and can be triggered by a common cold or allergies. Usually sinus infections go away with treatment and time, however, symptoms can linger for a week or sometimes longer. Here are some common symptoms of a sinus infection:

• Runny or stuffy nose that won’t go away completely.
• Facial pain or pressure, especially around the nose, head and cheeks.
• Headache or migraine that lasts for longer than normal.
• Mucus dripping down the throat, often referred to as drainage (results in a sore throat).
• Consistent bad breath that won’t completely go away with general hygiene practices.
• Fever and chills, generally low grade.

Types of Sinus Infections

Many are unaware that there are different types of sinus infections, all with unique symptoms and classifications. Here are four main classifications of sinusitis:

Acute Bacterial Sinusitis: Typically acute bacterial sinusitis stems from a sudden onset of general cold symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, facial pain and congestion. However, these symptoms can last up to 10 days or longer, or sometimes go away and come back worse than before.

Sub-Acute Sinusitis: In more serious cases, symptoms can last up to 4 weeks or more, sometimes lasting as long as 12 weeks in more serious cases. This type of sinusitis usually requires medical attention if symptoms don’t improve.

Recurrent-Acute Sinusitis: In some cases, symptoms can go away for a period of time and come back within a relatively extended time span. Sinusitis can be recurrent if symptoms come back 4 or more times in a year, lasting around 10 days or less with each occurrence.

Chronic Sinusitis: A sinus infection is deemed to be “chronic”  when symptoms last longer than 12 weeks.

Are Sinus Infections Contagious?

So the big question – are sinus infections contagious? The answer is a resounding… it depends! More specifically, it depends on where the infection came from. For example, a sinus infection caused by a virus can be spread from person to person because the source of the infection is viral. Unfortunately, most sinus infections are in fact caused by a viral source, meaning most cases can be contagious.

However, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes when sinus cavities are filled with excess mucus for an extended period of time (such as a prolonged cold), bacteria can grow overtime and cause an infection. In this case, the infection is bacterial so it cannot be spread from person to person. If you are experiencing symptoms that don’t improve within 10-14 days, you may have a bacterial form of sinusitis.

Tips to Overcome a Sinus Infection

If you feel you are experiencing a sinus infection, contacting your primary care doctor (or paying a visit to your local Next Level Urgent Care) is always advised. However in most cases, acute sinusitis can be treated at home with remedies such as:

• Plenty of sleep and rest
• Hydration, primarily water and non-sugary fluids
• Over the counter medication and painkillers
• Salt water solution nose rinse
• A hot facial pack
• At-home breathing treatment

With that said, bacterial sinusitis is usually treated with antibiotics, which can only be prescribed by your doctor. If your symptoms do not improve with home treatment within 7-10 days, contact your doctor to see if you may have a form of bacterial sinusitis.