Sinusitis
Have you ever felt like you had a cold that wouldn’t go away? If symptoms of discolored nasal drainage and blockage hang around for more than 10 days, or worsen after they start getting better, there’s a good chance you have sinusitis, an infection or inflammation of the sinuses. Sinusitis, also called rhinosinusitis because the symptoms involve both the nose and the sinuses, affects about 1 in 8 adults annually.
What is sinusitis?
For many, sinusitis starts when viruses or bacteria infect your sinuses (the hollow spaces in the bones around the nose) and begin to multiply. Part of the body’s reaction to the infection causes the sinus lining to swell, blocking the channels that drain the sinuses. This causes mucus and pus to fill up the nose and sinus cavities.
For others, the symptoms and inflammation may be the result of the nose and sinuses reacting to environmental factors, not an infection.
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Types of sinusitis
Because sinusitis simply means inflammation of the sinuses, the word alone includes a variety of similar problems.
Acute sinusitis is when the symptoms occur for less than 4 weeks. Recurrent acute sinusitis is when someone has 4 or more sinus infections (acute sinusitis) in 1 year but does not have symptoms in between those infections.
This is a sinus infection caused by bacteria. It may be treated with antibiotics.
A diagnosis of chronic sinusitis requires the symptoms last longer than 12 weeks without a break or relief. It is the same infection that entire period.
Fungal sinusitis is a broad term used to describe various situations when fungus might be involved in the cause or symptoms of nasal and sinus inflammation. The symptoms of fungal sinusitis are similar to the other forms of sinusitis. Unique symptoms include changes of the skin, numbness in the face and facial swelling of the cheeks or eyelids.
There are several types of fungal sinusitis. Saprophytic fungus occurs when fungus or mold grows on top of mucus or mucous crusts inside the nose. Fungus ball is caused by fungus getting caught in one of the sinuses, forming clumps of material that often contain bacteria as well. Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) results from an allergic reaction to any one of several different common fungi. Invasive fungal sinusitis is a severe infection of the nasal and sinus lining that can lead to the destruction of nasal/sinus tissue. It may be more common in people with diabetes or those who do not have a functioning immune system, such as transplant patients or those with lymphoma or leukemia.
Children can experience different symptoms of sinusitis. They are more likely to have a cough, bad breath, crankiness, low energy and swelling around the eyes, along with a thick yellow-green nasal or postnasal drip.
Your primary care provider or an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) can help sort out what type of sinusitis you have and how to treat it.
Sinusitis symptoms and risks
The symptoms of sinusitis vary based on the type you are experiencing. They may include:
- Long-lasting cold symptoms
- Loss of smell
- Pain, pressure or fullness in the face, head or around the eyes
- Stuffy, congested or blocked nose
- Thickened nasal drainage
Migraine headaches or tension headaches can cause symptoms of sinus pain or pressure. If you have sinus headaches without discolored drainage, talk to your primary care provider, or an ENT specialist, about the possibility of migraine headaches causing sinus pain or pressure and medication options for migraine treatment.
Sinusitis diagnosis and screening
Your doctor can diagnose sinusitis based on a physical exam and reported symptoms. If your doctor suspects a complication, or if you have repeated episodes or prolonged sinus symptoms, a CT scan of your sinuses may be needed.
Sinusitis treatment
Sinusitis is treated differently based on the cause. About 98% of acute sinusitis cases are caused by a virus, not bacteria, and should not be treated with antibiotics. Acute viral sinusitis may be treated using pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, steroid nasal sprays or saltwater irrigation in the nose. These treatments are also good options for acute bacterial sinusitis. Most people get better naturally from acute bacterial sinusitis, called watchful waiting, but some patients with acute bacterial sinusitis may get better faster with an antibiotic.
Chronic sinusitis is treated differently than acute sinusitis. Because chronic sinusitis is caused more by inflammation than infection, the treatments for chronic sinusitis aim to control the inflammation. Saltwater nasal irrigation and/or nasal steroid sprays are the main treatments for the symptoms of chronic sinusitis. Antibiotics may sometimes be helpful.
Surgery is not recommended for acute sinusitis except in rare circumstances. Sometimes the sinus infection can spread to the eye, face or brain; this would be considered an emergency, and surgery may be needed to reverse the infection and keep it from spreading.
For chronic sinusitis, surgery is an option when the symptoms cannot be controlled with medications and other treatments. The most common type of surgery for the sinuses is called endoscopic sinus surgery. A pencil-sized scope (endoscope) is used to see inside the nose and sinuses and guide the surgery. The surgery widens the natural drainage pathways between the sinuses and the nose, allowing mucus to get out of the sinuses and air to get in. Medications that are delivered into the nose and sinuses, like sprays and irrigations, can also get into the sinuses better after surgery.
Balloon sinus ostial dilation (BSOD) also uses an endoscope, but instead of carefully removing the bone and tissue that may be blocking a sinus, a balloon is used to make the sinus openings bigger. Balloon dilation may not be appropriate for every type of chronic sinusitis and cannot be used on all of your sinuses but can be helpful depending on your circumstances.
Surgery is also frequently used to treat fungal sinusitis. Antifungal medications may also be used in those cases.
Find a doctor
Doctors at The University of Kansas Health System are care providers and researchers at the forefront of new medical discoveries. From primary care to complex conditions, we offer hundreds of specialists.
Why choose us for sinusitis
Our doctors work together to deliver personalized, comprehensive care for every patient. Members of your care team may include specialists or subspecialists in sinus surgery, head and neck conditions or cancers, voice care, pediatric care, allergy treatment, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery or hearing loss surgery.
Our unified approach ensures every patient receives advanced, personalized treatment that fosters strong outcomes and satisfaction.
Additionally, our ENT experts are regularly recognized as "Top Doctors" by 435 Magazine. They maintain leadership positions with leading professional organizations across the country. Additionally, our program ranked No. 23 among the nation’s best in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals 2025-26.
We also provide comprehensive care in multiple convenient locations.