What Happens if You Let a Sinus Infection Go Untreated?

Sinusitis is the inflammation or infection of the sinuses, which are empty spaces between the eyes and cheekbones. These empty spaces normally drain fluid into the nose and throat. If they become blocked however, due to dust, pollution, or microbes (viruses, bacteria, or fungi), it can result in sinusitis.

Conditions that can cause sinus blockage include:

• Common cold (the same virus that causes the common cold often causes sinusitis)
• Allergic rhinitis (swelling of the lining of the nose caused by allergens such as pollen)
• Nasal polyps (small, fleshy growths in the lining of the nose)
• Deviated nasal septum (tilting of the middle bony part or nasal septum in the nostrils toward either side)

Sinusitis causes symptoms similar to a cold, such as runny nose or congestion. Pain and pressure in the head and face are common distinguishing features between the two. 

Additional symptoms of sinusitis may include:

• Postnasal drip
• Headache
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Persistent coughing
• Wet or productive cough (a cough that produces phlegm or mucus)
• Fever
• Dental pain
• Cheek pain
• Hyposmia

Stages or types of sinus infection are classified depending on how long the symptoms last:

• Acute sinusitis: Starts with a runny or stuffy nose and facial pain and lasts for 2-4 weeks.
• Subacute sinusitis: Symptoms persist for 4-12 weeks.
• Chronic sinusitis: Symptoms linger beyond 12 weeks.
• Recurrent sinusitis: Repeated attacks of sinusitis several times a year.

Your doctor will take your medical history, ask about your symptoms, and perform a physical examination to make a diagnosis of sinusitis. During the physical exam, your doctor will check the inside of your nose with a speculum and flashlight. 

Though not routinely ordered, tests done to diagnose sinusitis include:

• Blood tests: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) can determine the severity of the infection.
• Culture test: This involves taking a sample of discharge (swab) of the nose or sinus to detect the presence of microorganisms.
• Allergy test: This is usually done if you develop recurrent sinus infections.

In the initial stages of sinusitis, you can manage symptoms the way you would a viral sinus infection, which goes away within 10-14 days:

• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Apply a warm towel on your face for 5-10 minutes at a time 5 times a day.
• Inhale steam from a hot shower or bath.
• Use saline nasal drops in your nostrils, which loosens trapped mucus.
• Try over-the-counter medications such as nasal decongestants to help relieve pain and pressure in the head and face.

If your sinus infection does not clear up within 14 days, it may be due to bacteria or fungi:

• If it is a bacterial infection, it will need to be treated with antibiotics. 
• If it is a fungal infection, your doctor will prescribe antifungal medicines, steroids, or surgery (in severe cases).

If you have persistent sinus problems, your doctor may recommend surgery to open the blocked sinuses or to create a wider sinus opening. Surgical options include:

• Simple balloon sinuplasty and irrigation (use of small balloon catheters that inflate to drain the nasal sinuses)
• Endoscopic sinus surgery (removal of tissue and bone to create a wider opening)