Symptoms of a sinus infection

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Symptoms of a sinus infection

A stuffy nose may occur after a nose injury and may block the drainage of a sinus . As the fluid builds up, pressure on the sinus increases, causing pain. The blocked sinus may lead to a sinus infection.

Symptoms of a sinus infection include:

Moderate to severe sinus pain that gets worse when you strain, cough, or bend over.
Fever.
Swelling around the eyes.
Thick yellow or green nasal discharge.
Difficulty breathing through the nose.
Nasal-sounding voice.
A general feeling of not being well (malaise).
A cough caused by drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drip).
Bad breath (more common in children).
Reduced senses of taste and smell.

Medical treatment for a sinus infection includes medications to:

Treat the infection and prevent infection from spreading.
Improve breathing.
Reduce tissue swelling.
Relieve pain.
Maintain mucous drainage.
Prevent scar tissue in the nose and sinuses.

An untreated sinus infection can lead to serious complications.

Credits

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Author	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology
Last Updated	April 20, 2007

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Last updated:	April 20, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer

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