Sinus infections are responsible for nearly 73 million accumulated restricted activity days (a day in which more than half the day is spent in bed) in the United States. Nearly 15% of Americans experience a sinus infection in a given year. These widespread infections cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, such as a runny nose, nasal congestion, and facial pain. While a sinus infection causes symptoms similar to those of a common cold, several specific treatment options are available to reduce the symptoms of this condition.

Viral sinus infections usually go away on their own after a few days. Still, we recommend minimizing discomfort with simple at-home therapy and over-the-counter medications. We’ve compiled a quick outline of what a sinus infection is before diving into how to start feeling better fast.

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Sinus Infection Basics

A sinus infection, also known as sinusitis, is an infection of the sinus cavities, which are air-filled spaces behind the nose, cheekbones, and forehead. These cavities are lined with a soft tissue known as the mucosa. When an invasive pathogen infects the sinus cavities, this tissue becomes inflamed and swollen. Inflammation leads to increased mucus production and the stuffiness and congestion that are well-known sinusitis symptoms.

Acute sinusitis is a sinus infection caused by a harmful virus, bacteria, or fungus. Acute cases of sinusitis generally last for 7–10 days. Bacterial and fungal sinus infections often require prescription medication for treatment, while a viral infection will usually go away on its own.

Chronic sinusitis is a persistent inflammation of the sinuses. Chronic sinus infections can be caused by an infection, nasal polyps, a deviated septum, or other underlying health problems caused by a compromised immune system.

Symptoms of a Sinus Infection

Sinusitis symptoms may vary in severity.

Common symptoms of a sinus infection include:

• Runny nose (nasal discharge)
  
• Stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
  
• Postnasal drip
  
• Sinus pressure/ facial pain
  
• Sinus headaches
  
• Bad breath
  
• Sore throat
  
• Upper jaw/ tooth pain
  
• Decreased sense of smell
  
• Fever
  
  

A common cold or allergies can cause sinus infections. If you are experiencing sinus pain, cough, or body aches, you likely have a sinus infection caused by a cold. If your sinus pain and congestion are accompanied by seasonal allergy symptoms such as sneezing (allergic rhinitis), allergies have likely played a role in causing an infection.

Both colds and allergies inflame the nasal passages in the skull. When these airways become swollen, mucus blockage may occur. If the mucus is built-up in the sinuses, bacteria can breed and infect the area.

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The Best OTC Medications for Sinus Infections

If you are experiencing a viral sinus infection, the illness should go away within a few days. To alleviate your symptoms, we recommend these widely-available over-the-counter treatment options.

Decongestant nasal sprays help minimize swelling by shrinking blood vessels in the nasal passages, which helps with sinus congestion symptoms.

Common OTC decongestants include:

• Afrin (oxymetazoline)
  
• Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)
  
  

You should only use a nasal decongestant for a few days, as repeated use can cause more severe congestion. It's also important to note that certain brands, such as Sudafed, Vicks Sinex, and Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion, list phenylephrine as the active decongestive ingredient. However, recent studies and a FDA medical advisory panel found that phenylephrine doesn't actually work to treat nasal congestion when taken orally. As of September 12, 2023, the FDA has ruled the ingredient ineffective, meaning that many products containing the ingredient may be taken off shelves.

Over-the-counter pain relievers can help reduce inflammation symptoms caused by a sinus infection. Inflammation symptoms include sinus pain, headaches and tooth pain. While OTC pain relievers will not cure the underlying condition, they can minimize discomfort while waiting for the infection to heal.

Common OTC pain relievers include:

• Ibuprofen (Advil)
  
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  
• Naproxen (Aleve)
  
  

Talk to your health care provider before you start taking OTC pain relievers. Patients with high blood pressure or who take blood thinning medication should avoid using these drugs unless cleared to do so by a doctor.

Antihistamines are used as a treatment for allergy symptoms. These drugs block the production of histamines, a substance released by the body when it believes it has come into contact with an irritant. Antihistamines help clear up sinus congestion while treating the underlying cause of some sinus infections.

Common OTC antihistamines include:

• Claritin (Loratadine)
  
• Zyrtec (Cetirizine)
  
• Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
  
  

Antihistamine drugs are generally supplied as a nasal spray or oral tablet. Be sure to check the packaging of the medication you are taking, as some brands of antihistamines can make you drowsy (like Nighttime Benadryl). You should not drive a car or operate machinery after taking an antihistamine that makes you drowsy. Talk to your health care provider about the best antihistamine for you and the proper dosage for your treatment.

Nasal sprays containing the steroid fluticasone (Flonase) help reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. This can minimize congestion symptoms and headaches caused by a sinus infection.

Alternative Therapies

In addition to OTC medication, you can use several home remedies to lessen the uncomfortable symptoms caused by a sinus infection.

These include:

Saline nasal sprays: Saline nasal sprays (like Simply Saline) are non-medicated sprays that rinse and clean the nasal passages. This helps loosen mucus, reduce congestion and soothe irritated nasal tissue.

Neti Pots: Neti Pots are common appliances used for nasal irrigation. To use one, put iodide and preservative-free salt water into the chamber. It is recommended that you boil the water first to sanitize it. Wait until the water is room temperature before you put it in the Neti Pot. Pour the solution into each nostril, per the device’s instructions. This salt water rinse can help reduce congestion and pain caused by a sinus infection while cleansing the affected area.

Drink plenty of fluids: Fluids help thin your mucus, allowing it to drain from the nasal passages more easily.

Moisten sinus cavities: Drape a towel over your head and breathe in the vapor from a bowl of hot water. This helps the nose, drains mucus and relieves symptoms of sinus infection. Take a shower and inhale the warm, wet air. Use a humidifier at night, but make sure you are using filtered water in the chamber.

Warm compress: A warm compress applied to your nose and forehead may help alleviate sinus congestion.

Most sinus infections will disappear without prescription medication within ten days. If you start to notice severe symptoms (like a fever over 103 degrees Fahrenheit) or your symptoms persist for longer than ten days, you should seek medical advice from a licensed health care provider. Long-term sinus infections may be caused by bacteria or fungi requiring specific prescription medication. An underlying condition like nasal polyps may also cause a persistent sinus infection.

Looking to talk to someone about your symptoms? Sesame offers appointments with an online doctor for sinus infections. These convenient and affordable telehealth appointments let you discuss your condition and possible treatment options with a licensed health care provider, all from the comfort of your home. Don’t wait to treat a sinus infection. Book an appointment now to start feeling better right away.

Battling a sinus infection and looking for same-day, affordable treatment from the comfort of home? Save 20% on your care when you create a free Sesame account.
Get Started

Sources:

• American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Sinus Infection. https://acaai.org.
  
• Consumer Healthcare Products Association. Meeting of the FDA NDAC to Evaluate the Efficacy of Oral Phenylephrine. chpa.org.. 2023.
  
• Penn Medicine. Sinus Infection. pennmedicine.org. 2022.
  
• Mayo Clinic. Acute sinusitis: Do over-the-counter treatments help? mayoclinic.org. 2022.
  

Sesame content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have a medical concern, it is critical to seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions. If you are facing a medical emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room immediately.

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