Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis include:

• Nasal inflammation
• Thick, discolored discharge from the nose (runny nose)
• Drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage)
• Blocked or stuffy (congested) nose causing difficulty breathing through your nose
• Pain, tenderness and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead
• Reduced sense of smell and taste

Other signs and symptoms can include:

• Ear pain
• Headache
• Aching in your upper jaw and teeth
• Cough or throat clearing
• Sore throat
• Bad breath
• Fatigue

Chronic sinusitis and acute sinusitis have similar signs and symptoms. But acute sinusitis is a temporary infection of the sinuses often associated with a cold. The signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis last at least 12 weeks, but you may have several episodes of acute sinusitis before developing chronic sinusitis. Fever isn't a common sign of chronic sinusitis, but you might have one with acute sinusitis.

When to see a doctor

Schedule an appointment with your doctor if:

• You've had sinusitis a number of times, and the condition doesn't respond to treatment
• You have sinusitis symptoms that last more than 10 days
• Your symptoms don't improve after you see your doctor

See a doctor immediately if you have the following signs or symptoms, which could indicate a serious infection:

• Fever
• Swelling or redness around your eyes
• Severe headache
• Forehead swelling
• Confusion
• Double vision or other vision changes
• Stiff neck