Sinus pain or pressure

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Sinus pain or pressure

Mild to moderate sinus pressure and congestion are common when you have an upper respiratory infection. They often go away with home treatment. Nasal discharge may thicken and change from white to yellow or green toward the end of a cold. These symptoms are not a cause for concern unless they persist or occur with other signs of infection, such as sinus pain, fever, redness, or swelling.

Pain and pressure in the face are the main symptoms of a sinus infection (sinusitis). The location of pain and pressure may depend on which sinus is affected. You may have pain over the cheek and upper teeth, in the forehead, above the eyebrows, on top of the head, in the temples, or around or behind the eyes.

Besides facial pain, other symptoms of a sinus infection include:

• A fever.
• Nasal discharge that smells bad or has changed to yellow or green while other symptoms have worsened.
• Redness and swelling present over the painful area.

Clear or white nasal discharge is usually caused by allergies and may persist as long as you are exposed to the allergens.

Credits

Last updated:	May 15, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer