A sinus infection, or sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages that can accompany a viral, bacterial or fungal infection. A sinus infection can cause severe headaches and/or pressure in the eyes, nose and cheek area or on one side of the head. The sinuses contain natural defenses against germs. However, if a disruption occurs that affects the normal host defenses inside the sinuses, those defenses may allow bacteria, which are normally present in the nasal passages, to enter any of the sinuses. Once there, the bacteria may stick to the lining cells and cause a sinus infection.

Sinusitis usually follows a persistent cold, and symptoms include the following:

Bad breath or loss of smell;
Cough, often worse at night;
Fatigue and generally not feeling well;
Fever;
Headache — pressure-like pain, pain behind the eyes, toothache, or facial tenderness;
Nasal congestion and discharge; and
Sore throat and postnasal drip.

Acute sinusitis usually lasts less than 8 weeks or occurs no more than 3 times per year with each episode lasting no longer than 10 days. Antibiotics are usually effective against acute sinusitis. Successful treatment counteracts damage done to the mucous lining of the sinuses and surrounding bone of the skull. Sinusitis is characterized as ‘chronic’ if it lasts longer than 8 weeks or occurs more than 4 times per year with symptoms usually lasting more than 20 days.

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