how to fix sinus infection fast

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Diseases & Conditions
Acute sinusitis

A health care provider might ask about symptoms and do an exam. The exam might include feeling for tenderness in the nose and face and looking inside the nose.

Other ways to diagnose acute sinusitis and rule out other conditions include:

Nasal endoscopy. A health care provider inserts a thin, flexible tube, known as an endoscope, into the nose. A light on the tube allows the provider to see inside the sinuses.
Imaging studies. A CT scan can show details of the sinuses and nasal area. It's not usually used for simple acute sinusitis. But imaging studies might help rule out other causes.
Nasal and sinus samples. Lab tests aren't often used to diagnose acute sinusitis. But if the condition doesn't get better with treatment or gets worse, tissue samples from the nose or sinuses might help find the cause.

More Information

Allergy skin tests

Most cases of acute sinusitis get better on their own. Self-care is usually all that's needed to ease symptoms.

Treatments to ease symptoms

The following might help ease sinusitis symptoms:

Saline nasal spray. Salt water sprayed into the nose many times a day rinses the inside of the nose.
Nasal corticosteroids. These nasal sprays help prevent and treat swelling. Examples include fluticasone (Flonase Allergy Relief, Flonase Sensimist Allergy Relief, others), budesonide (Rhinocort Allergy), mometasone and beclomethasone (Beconase AQ, Qnasl, others).
Decongestants. These medicines are available with and without a prescription. They come in liquids, tablets and nasal sprays. Use nasal decongestants for only a few days because they may cause worse stuffiness, known as rebound congestion.
Allergy medicines. For sinusitis caused by allergies, using allergy medicines might lessen allergy symptoms.

Pain relievers. Try acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or aspirin available without a prescription.

Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than 3, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in such children.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics don't treat viruses, which are the usual cause of acute sinusitis. Even if bacteria caused the acute sinusitis, called a bacterial infection, it might clear up on its own. So a health care provider might wait and see if the acute sinusitis gets worse before prescribing antibiotics.

But, if you have severe, worsening or long-lasting symptoms, your symptoms might need to be treated with antibiotics. Always take the whole course of antibiotics even after symptoms get better. Stopping antibiotics early might cause symptoms to come back.

Immunotherapy

For sinusitis caused or made worse by allergies, allergy shots might help. This is known as immunotherapy.

Acute sinusitis: Do over-the-counter treatments help?

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Lifestyle and home remedies

A neti pot is a container designed to rinse the nasal cavity.

These steps can help relieve sinusitis symptoms:

Rest. Rest helps the body fight infection and speed recovery.
Drink fluids. Keep drinking plenty of fluids.
Use a warm compress. A warm compress on the nose and forehead might help lessen pressure in the sinuses.
Keep sinuses moist. Breathing in the steam from a bowl of hot water with a towel over the head might help. Or take a hot shower, breathing in the warm, moist air. This will help ease pain and help mucus drain.
Rinse the inside of the nose. Use a specially designed squeeze bottle (Sinus Rinse, others) or neti pot. This home remedy, called nasal lavage, can help clear sinuses.

Alternative medicine

No alternative therapies have been proved to ease the symptoms of acute sinusitis. Products that have certain herbs in them might be of some help. These therapies have cowslip, gentian root, elderflower, verbena and sorrel in them.

Check with a health care provider before taking herbal or dietary supplements. Be sure they're safe and that they won't get in the way of medicines you take.

Preparing for your appointment

Here's information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

Your symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to the reason for your appointment, and when they began.
Key personal information, including whether you have allergies or asthma, and family medical history.
All medicines, vitamins or other supplements you take, including doses.
Questions to ask your health care provider.

For acute sinusitis, questions to ask your provider include:

What's likely causing my symptoms?
What are other possible causes for my symptoms?
What tests do I need?
Is my condition likely to go away or be long lasting?
What's the best course of action?
I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you suggest?

Be sure to ask all the questions you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your care provider is likely to ask you questions, such as:

Do you have symptoms all the time or once in a while?
How bad are your symptoms?
What, if anything, seems to make your symptoms better?
What, if anything, seems to make your symptoms worse?
Do you smoke or are you around smoke or other pollutants?
Ferri FF. Sinusitis. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2023. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 2, 2023.
Sinusitis (sinus infection or sinus inflammation). American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. https://aafa.org/allergies/allergy-symptoms/sinusitis-sinus-infection/. Accessed Feb. 2, 2023.
Patel ZM, et al. Acute sinusitis and rhinosinusitis in adults: Clinical manifestations and diagnosis. https://www.uptodate/com/contents/search. Accessed Feb. 2, 2023.
AskMayoExpert. Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. Mayo Clinic; 2022.
Bennett JE, et al. Sinusitis. In: Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 2, 2023.
Sinus infection. American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/sinus-infection/. Accessed Feb. 2, 2023.
Sinus infection (sinusitis). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/for-patients/common-illnesses/sinus-infection.html. Accessed Feb. 2, 2023.
Elderflower. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed Feb. 2, 2023.
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Sinusitis and tooth pain

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Can a Sinus Infection Go Away on Its Own?

When Antibiotics May Not Be Necessary

When Infections Go Away
Healing Timeline
What Speeds Recovery?
Why One Might Not Clear
Worsening Signs
When Antibiotics Are Needed

Sinus infections , also known as sinusitis, is the inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. Most sinus infections are caused by viruses , but a small number are caused by bacteria. Only bacterial sinus infections benefit from antibiotic treatment, but there are other symptom-relieving treatments for viral sinus infections.

This article will cover steps to take when a sinus infection doesn't get better and what to do if it gets worse.

ProfessionalStudioImages / Getty Images

When Can a Sinus Infection Go Away on Its Own?

Sinus infections are typically caused by the same viruses that cause the common cold, and are also linked to allergies, secondhand smoke, or structural abnormalities of the nose.

The vast majority of sinus infections are caused by viruses, and only 0.5% to 2% are caused by bacteria. When someone does have a bacterial sinus infection, it is likely that they initially had a viral sinus infection that then developed a bacterial infection.

There is no cure for a viral sinus infection. Antibiotics are reserved for treating bacterial infections and as long as there are no complications from the infection, treatment is aimed at relieving the symptoms.

For many people, it's suitable to allow bacterial sinus infections to run their course. In fact, 75% of bacterial sinus infections will clear up without antibiotic treatment. However, it is recommended to treat the symptoms that come along with a sinus infection.

Healing Timeline: Signs of Improving Sinus Infection

A sinus infection causes a series of symptoms that make those with the condition feel very uncomfortable. The symptoms can include:

Stuffy or runny nose
Facial pressure or pain
Postnasal drip
Sore throat

The best way to tell that a sinus infection is getting better is when the above symptoms start to go away after seven to 10 days from the onset. Signs of improvement include a less runny nose and a less irritated throat.

It's important to take note if symptoms improve but then get worse. This often is a sign of a bacterial sinus infection.

What Helps Clear a Sinus Infection Faster

One of the best ways to help clear a sinus infection is to treat the symptoms to alleviate congestion and discomfort. Here are steps to relieve symptoms:

Pain medication: Tylenol ( acetaminophen ) or Advil (ibuprofen) are two over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can relieve the pain associated with a sinus infection.
Nasal spray: A saline nasal spray used a few times per day can thin nasal mucus and make it easier to blow the nose.
Mucolytics : Oral medications like Mucinex (guaifenesin) are used to thin mucus.
Decongestants: Oral medicines or nasal spray decongestants can relieve congestion, especially when there is ear fullness or pain.
Steam: Inhaling warm, moist air can temporarily relieve congestion and help loosen mucus.

Chronic Sinus Symptoms

A chronic sinus infection lasts for more than 12 weeks. Managing symptoms for that long can have a negative effect on a person's daily life.

When someone has a chronic sinus infection, it sometimes is due to chronic inflammation or an incompletely resolved infection. This means that a different antibiotic or longer antibiotic treatment is needed. In some cases, there may need to be more testing to determine the exact route of treatment that is necessary.

When Doesn’t a Sinus Infection Go Away on Its Own?

While most sinus infections will go away on their own, a small percentage will not. These sinus infections are called chronic sinus infections.

A healthcare provider will need to treat a chronic sinus infection. They will assess the cause and determine the best route of treatment.

For some people, this may require surgery to widen the sinus opening or remove nasal polyps .

Signs of Worsening Sinus Infection

A sinus infection is a very common condition that typically resolves with minimal treatment. Sometimes, a sinus infection lingers and becomes worse. This can lead to serious complications that need medical attention. Below are signs of a worsening sinus infection that need immediate medical attention:

Vision changes
High fever (greater than 102 degrees F)
Severe head or face pain
Swelling or redness around the eyes

How to Get Antibiotics for a Sinus Infection

When a sinus infection has lasted for more than 10 days then it may be time for antibiotics . Contact a healthcare provider to get a prescription. Some healthcare providers will want to see their patients in person, whereas others may be willing to prescribe medication over the phone.

The pharmacist to whom the prescription is sent should explain any potential side effects and screen for medication interactions.

COVID-19 Testing for Sinus Infections

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory infection that can cause a sinus infection. A healthcare provider may want to test someone for COVID-19 to determine the cause of the infection. This can help guide their treatment plan.

Sinus infections are painful and can interfere with daily life and activities. Most of the time, for a healthy individual, a sinus infection will go away on its own, but when it lasts for more than 10 days or worsens then a healthcare provider may need to prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sinus infection (sinusitis) .

UpToDate. Patient education: acute sinusitis (sinus infection) .

By Patty Weasler, RN, BSN Weasler is a Wisconsin-based registered nurse with over a decade of experience in pediatric critical care.