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Do I have a Sinus Infection or a Cold?

12/15/2021

SINUS INFECTION OR COLD?

Watery eyes, a stuffy nose, AND sneezing. Is it a cold or a sinus infection?

Cold

If it’s a cold virus, you may find yourself close to a tissue box for some time. Most of the time, in about 10 days, your cold symptoms should get better.

Cold Symptoms:

• Sore throat
• Cough
• Headache
• Stuffy nose
• Mucus buildup
• Sneezing
• Fatigue
• Swollen sinuses
• Fever

Treating your Cold
Because the common cold is a virus, antibiotics will not be the best cure, while over-the-counter medications may make you feel better.

Sinus Infection

When your nasal passages become infected, that results in a sinus infection and they are much more difficult to cure than a common cold. Viruses, bacteria, or even allergies can lead to sinus infections.

Look for the following symptoms:

• Sinus pressure behind the eyes and the cheeks
• A runny, stuffy nose that lasts more than a week
• Headache or migraine
• Fever
• Cough
• Bad breath
• Thick yellow or green mucus draining from your nose or down the back of your throat (postnasal drip)
• Fatigue
• Decreased sense of smell