Why Do We Get Sinus Infections?

Sinus infections affect millions of people in the United States each year, many of whom miss work or school. If you're experiencing nasal congestion, headaches, drainage down the back of your throat (postnasal drip), puffy eyes, fatigue, sore throat, and facial pain, you're likely a statistic.

It makes sense to find out what's causing your sinus infection, how it developed, and what you can do about it. Read on to get the answers you need.

How Do Sinus Infections Occur?

Your sinuses are a connected system of hollow air spaces inside your skull. They are situated around your nose, cheeks, and forehead, and they are named after the bones that contain them and provide their structure. The sinuses produce mucus—a stringy, slippery substance that keeps your nasal passages moist and acts as a protective barrier against dust, pathogens, and pollutants in the air you inhale.

Sinus infections occur when pathogens (bacteria, virus, or fungi) inflame and thicken your mucus membranes (the tissues that line your sinuses), blocking mucus drainage and causing it to build up. Mucus buildup makes the sinuses conducive to pathogen growth.

Viruses, especially those that cause the common cold, are the usual culprits in sinus infections. Only up to two percent of sinus infections are caused by bacteria, and these are often a complication of viral sinus infection. Fungal sinus infections are rare, and typically affect people who are immunocompromised.

Diagnosing Sinus Infections

Seeing your doctor remains the single best way to determine whether your symptoms are those of a sinus infection, find its cause, and receive appropriate treatment.

To confirm a diagnosis, your doctor will review your symptoms, look into your sinuses using a nasal endoscope to rule out septal deviation, tumors, or polyps; and order imaging tests to determine whether there's deep inflammation.

If you have an acute or subacute sinus infection, no other tests are required, since they are mostly viral in nature and go away within seven to ten days, unless bacterial infection occurs.

If you have a chronic or severe sinus infection, you will likely be referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor, who will take a sinus culture to pinpoint the cause, whether it is bacteria or fungus.

Treatment for Sinus Infections

The type of treatment you will receive will depend on what type of sinus infection you have and how long you've had it.

If you have a bacterial sinus infection, your ENT doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics, which you will have to take for seven to ten days.

Nasal allergies in themselves cause sinus irritation, which can put you at a greater risk of developing an infection. If you have nasal allergies, your ENT specialist will likely give you nasal sprays to soothe the irritation. However, if you have severe inflammation, you may need to take oral steroids, possibly along with oral decongestants.

If your sinus infection doesn't respond to conservative interventions or is complicated by nasal polyps or structural problems, your ENT doctor may recommend surgery, possibly balloon sinuplasty— a revolutionary, minimally invasive alternative to traditional sinus surgery. This type of endoscopic nasal surgery has been touted by experts for effectively addressing chronic or recurrent sinusitis.