Sinusitis (sinus infection)

Sinusitis is swelling of the sinuses, usually caused by an infection. It’s common and usually clears up on its own within 4 weeks. But medicines can help if it’s taking a long time to go away.

Check if it’s sinusitis

Sinusitis is common after a cold or flu.

The main symptoms of sinusitis include:

• Pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead
• A blocked or runny nose
• A reduced sense of smell
• Green or yellow mucus from your nose
• A high temperature

Other symptoms include:

• Headache
• Toothache
• Bad breath
• Cough
• A feeling of pressure in the ears

You may also snore at night and sound nasal when you speak.

Young children may also be irritable, have difficulty feeding and breathe through their mouth.

How you can treat sinusitis yourself

You can often treat mild sinusitis without seeing a GP by:

• Getting plenty of rest
• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Taking painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (do not give aspirin to children under 16)
• Avoiding things that trigger your allergies
• Avoid smoking
• Cleaning your nose with a salt water solution

If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

We can help with sinusitis

We can advise you about medicines that can help, such as:

• Decongestant nasal sprays or drops to unblock your nose (decongestants should not be taken by children under 6)
• Salt water nasal sprays or solutions to rinse out the inside of your nose

If necessary, we can also provide other treatments including antibiotics, if you need them, without you seeing a GP.