What Are the Different Types of Sinus Infections?

Sinusitis occurs when inflammation or infection affects the sinus cavities surrounding your nasal passages. Understanding the different types of sinusitis can help you recognize when it’s time to seek professional care.

Acute Sinusitis

Acute sinusitis is the most common form we encounter, typically lasting up to four weeks. It often starts as a common cold or allergies and can progress into a bacterial infection. If you experience nasal congestion, facial pressure or pain, nasal discharge, reduced sense of smell, fever, or fatigue, our healthcare providers can quickly diagnose and determine the appropriate treatment. While viral sinus infections usually resolve with minimal treatment, bacterial sinusitis may require antibiotics, which we can prescribe when necessary.

Subacute Sinusitis

Subacute sinusitis has symptoms lasting longer than acute sinusitis, usually between four and 12 weeks. Although symptoms are similar, they persist longer and may require more targeted intervention.

Chronic Sinusitis

If your sinus symptoms last beyond 12 weeks, you may have chronic sinusitis. This persistent or recurring condition often stems from ongoing infections, nasal polyps, structural nasal blockages, or allergic reactions. Chronic sinusitis can significantly disrupt your quality of life, causing continuous nasal congestion, drainage, reduced sense of smell, and facial discomfort.

Recurrent Sinusitis

Recurrent sinusitis refers to experiencing four or more episodes of acute sinus infections within a single year, with symptom-free periods in between. Frequent sinus infections can indicate underlying conditions such as allergies, immune deficiencies, or anatomical abnormalities.

Acute sinus infections typically last less than four weeks and often follow a common cold or viral infection. These viral infections cause inflammation and blockage in your sinuses, creating an environment where bacteria—such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, or Moraxella catarrhalis—can flourish.

Subacute sinus infections persist longer, usually between four and twelve weeks. This type of sinusitis may result from persistent inflammation, incomplete recovery following an acute infection, or bacteria resistant to initial therapies.

Chronic sinus infections last beyond twelve weeks and often involve multiple contributing factors, such as structural abnormalities (nasal polyps, deviated septum, or narrow sinus passages), allergies, immune system issues, or environmental irritants like cigarette smoke and pollution.

Whether your sinus infection is acute, subacute, or chronic, SoCal Urgent Care is here to help you quickly identify and manage your condition. Our dedicated medical professionals offer timely, compassionate care to relieve symptoms, address underlying causes, and get you back on track to better health.

Acute sinusitis is a short-term condition lasting typically less than four weeks. Commonly triggered by viral infections like the common cold, and occasionally bacterial infections, acute sinusitis brings symptoms such as nasal congestion, facial pressure or pain, thick nasal discharge, fever, and a reduced sense of smell or taste. With prompt medical attention, acute sinus infections usually resolve without complications.

Chronic sinusitis, on the other hand, persists for 12 weeks or longer, despite initial treatments. It can be caused by prolonged inflammation, allergies, nasal polyps, structural issues within the nasal passages, or immune system conditions. Patients experiencing chronic sinusitis often report ongoing nasal congestion, persistent facial discomfort, a reduced sense of smell, and fatigue. Although SoCal Urgent Care can help manage acute flare-ups and provide initial relief, chronic sinusitis typically requires a more comprehensive, long-term approach.

Understanding whether you’re experiencing acute or chronic sinusitis helps our team deliver targeted, effective treatment. Our goal is always to provide prompt relief, accurate diagnosis, and appropriate recommendations for ongoing care to help you breathe easier and feel better quickly.

Allergic sinus infections, also known as allergic sinusitis, differ primarily from bacterial or viral sinus infections due to their underlying allergy-related causes. These infections occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to environmental allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold, or pet dander. Exposure to these allergens triggers the release of histamines and other inflammatory chemicals, causing swelling and congestion in the sinus passages.

Patients visiting SoCal Urgent Care with allergic sinusitis often experience symptoms such as persistent nasal congestion, clear nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal itching, and itchy or watery eyes. In contrast, bacterial sinus infections typically present with thicker, discolored nasal discharge, facial pressure or pain, and sometimes fever. Viral sinus infections usually occur alongside common cold symptoms, including sore throat, fatigue, and clear nasal discharge that may gradually thicken.

Another distinguishing feature is the duration of symptoms. Allergic sinusitis often persists for as long as the individual is exposed to the triggering allergen—potentially weeks or even months—whereas bacterial or viral sinus infections typically resolve within days to a few weeks with proper medical intervention.

Our experienced medical providers will evaluate your symptoms carefully to identify the type of sinus infection you’re experiencing. Treatment for allergic sinusitis focuses on allergy management strategies and symptom control, including allergen avoidance, antihistamines to reduce allergic reactions, nasal corticosteroids to relieve inflammation, and saline nasal rinses to clear irritants and mucus. On the other hand, bacterial sinus infections often require antibiotic therapy, while viral sinus infections typically respond well to rest, hydration, and symptom-relief measures.

At SoCal Urgent Care, we are dedicated to providing personalized care and effective treatment options tailored to each patient’s specific sinus condition. 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.