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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffChronic sinusitis symptoms include:
- Drainage of a thick, yellow or greenish discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat
- Nasal obstruction or congestion, causing difficulty breathing through your nose
- Pain, tenderness and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead
- Aching in your upper jaw and teeth
- Reduced sense of smell and taste
- Cough, which may be worse at night
Other signs and symptoms can include:
- Ear pain
- Sore throat
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Fatigue or irritability
- Nausea
The signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis are similar to acute sinusitis, except they last longer and often cause more significant fatigue. Chronic sinusitis is sinusitis that lasts more than eight weeks or keeps coming back. Unlike with acute sinusitis, fever isn't a common sign of chronic sinusitis.
When to see a doctor
You may have several episodes of acute sinusitis, lasting less than four weeks, before developing chronic sinusitis. You may be referred to an allergist or an ear, nose and throat specialist for evaluation and treatment.
See a doctor:
- If you've had sinusitis a number of times and the condition fails to respond to treatment
- If you have sinusitis that lasts more than 7 days
- If your symptoms don't get better after you see your doctor
See a doctor immediately if you have symptoms that may be a sign of a serious infection:
- Pain or swelling around your eyes
- A swollen forehead
- Severe headache
- Confusion
- Double vision or other vision changes
- Stiff neck
- Shortness of breath
- Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters for Allergy and Immunology. The diagnosis and management of sinusitis: A practice parameter update. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2005; 116(6)(suppl):13-47.
- Hamilos D, et al. Clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 24, 2008.
- Leung R, et al. The diagnosis and management of acute and chronic sinusitis. Primary Care Clinics. 2008;35:11-24.
- Hamilos D, et al. Management of chronic rhinosinusitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 24, 2008.
