Common Symptoms of a Sinus Infection You Should Know

At SoCal Urgent Care, our experienced medical team frequently treats patients suffering from sinus infections (sinusitis) and the common cold. While these two illnesses share certain symptoms, understanding their differences can help you know when it’s time to seek medical attention from our urgent care providers.

One key difference between sinusitis and a common cold is the duration and progression of symptoms. Colds typically resolve within a week to ten days, whereas sinus infections often persist beyond this timeframe or worsen after initial improvement.

Facial pain or pressure—often around the forehead, eyes, cheeks, or even teeth—is another hallmark sign of sinusitis. While congestion and mild discomfort are common with colds, pronounced facial pressure usually indicates sinus inflammation and may require medical intervention.

Nasal discharge also differs between the two conditions. In a common cold, nasal discharge typically transitions from clear to thicker mucus but gradually resolves. However, thick yellow or green nasal discharge lasting beyond several days, often accompanied by decreased sense of smell or taste, points toward a sinus infection.

Fever can further help distinguish between sinusitis and the common cold. While colds might cause a mild, short-lived fever—or none at all—sinus infections can cause persistent or higher fevers, indicating inflammation or bacterial involvement.

Sinus infections frequently cause localized headaches and fatigue due to ongoing inflammation and sinus congestion. While colds can also lead to fatigue and general discomfort, symptoms of sinusitis tend to be more intense and prolonged.

Facial pain is commonly associated with sinus infections, known medically as sinusitis. This condition occurs when the lining of the sinus cavities becomes inflamed or swollen due to viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. Patients experiencing sinusitis often report facial discomfort or pressure around the forehead, cheeks, nose, and eyes.

Typically, our patients who suffer from sinusitis also experience additional symptoms such as nasal congestion, thick nasal discharge, reduced sense of smell, coughing, fatigue, and occasionally fever. The pain or pressure often intensifies when bending forward or lying down, as these positions can increase sinus cavity pressure.

However, it’s essential to understand that facial pain isn’t exclusively linked to sinusitis. Our experienced providers recognize facial pain can also result from other conditions such as dental infections, migraines, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, cluster headaches, or nerve-related pain. Thus, facial pain by itself may not conclusively indicate a sinus infection, and a comprehensive evaluation by one of our healthcare professionals is recommended.

Sinusitis commonly presents with symptoms such as headaches, nasal congestion, and facial discomfort. It occurs when the sinus cavities become inflamed or infected due to viruses, bacteria, or allergens. This inflammation causes swelling and mucus buildup within the nasal passages and sinus cavities, resulting in uncomfortable congestion.

Patients experiencing sinus infections often describe the associated headache as a pressure-like or throbbing pain, typically worsening when leaning forward or bending down. Additionally, sinusitis may involve facial tenderness or pain around the eyes, cheeks, or forehead, as well as symptoms like nasal discharge, decreased sense of smell, and fatigue.

Our medical team is ready to promptly evaluate your symptoms, diagnose sinus infections, and provide effective treatment strategies to relieve your discomfort and help you recover quickly. If your symptoms persist, worsen, or cause significant discomfort, we encourage you to visit our practice for timely medical care.

Typically, sinus infection symptoms last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the underlying cause, severity of infection, and individual health factors.

Acute sinusitis, often triggered by a viral illness such as the common cold, usually resolves on its own within seven to ten days. However, bacterial sinus infections, which we commonly see at our urgent care clinic, can persist longer—sometimes two weeks or even more—and may require antibiotic treatment.

In cases of chronic sinusitis, symptoms can linger for twelve weeks or longer despite attempts at treatment. Chronic sinusitis often results from persistent inflammation or infection, allergies, or structural issues within the nasal passages, and may require specialized care or a referral from our urgent care providers.

Common symptoms indicating a possible sinus infection include:

• Nasal congestion
• Facial pain or pressure
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Loss of smell
• Thick nasal discharge

If your symptoms persist beyond ten days without improvement, worsen significantly, or you simply have questions or concerns, visit SoCal Urgent Care. Our experienced healthcare providers are ready to assess your condition, determine if antibiotics or additional medications are needed, and help you feel better quickly. For more information, please contact us or request an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 710 S Brookhurst St. Suite A, Anaheim, CA 92804 (less than 3 miles away from Disneyland). We serve patients from Anaheim CA, Buena Park CA, La Palma CA, Cerritos CA, Cypress CA, Stanton CA, Garden Grove CA, Fullerton CA, Placentia CA, and Olive CA.