Sinus Infection

A sinus infection is swelling and infection of the spaces behind your cheeks, eyes, and forehead. Sinus infection symptoms include face pressure, thick mucus, and a stuffy nose. Most are caused by viruses and clear without antibiotics.

What Is It

Doctors call it sinusitis. A cold or allergies swell the lining of the sinuses so mucus cannot drain. Most sinus infections are viral and improve within 10 days. A small number become bacterial and need antibiotics. Chicago fall allergies and winter colds both bring more cases.

Symptoms

Pressure or pain in the cheeks, forehead, or around the eyes
Thick yellow or green mucus
Stuffy nose
Mucus dripping down the back of the throat
Reduced sense of smell
Upper tooth pain, bad breath, or a cough that is worse at night

Not sure it’s a sinus infection? A cold usually improves within a week. Sinus symptoms that last more than 10 days, or improve and then get worse, may be bacterial. Head pain with nausea and light sensitivity may be a migraine.

Treatment

At your visit: A provider examines your nose, throat, ears, and sinuses to tell a viral infection from a bacterial one. Most viral cases need symptom relief, not antibiotics. Antibiotics are used when the signs point to a bacterial infection.

At home:

Rinse your nose with saline once or twice a day
Breathe steam from a shower or bowl of hot water
Use over the counter pain relievers and decongestants as directed
Drink plenty of fluids and sleep with your head raised

Most sinus infections improve within 7 to 10 days.

When to Get Care for a Sinus Infection

Watch at Home

Congestion and pressure for less than a week
Improving a little each day
No fever, or a low fever

Come to Urgent Care Today

Symptoms lasting more than 10 days
Symptoms that improved, then got worse again
A fever above 102 degrees
Severe face pain or tooth pain
Three or more sinus infections in a year

Go to the Emergency Department

Swelling or redness around the eye
Double vision or trouble moving the eye
A severe headache with a stiff neck
Confusion or unusual sleepiness

FAQ

How do I know if I have a sinus infection?

A sinus infection usually causes face pressure, thick yellow or green mucus, and a stuffy nose. Symptoms that last more than 10 days point to a sinus infection rather than a cold.

How long does a sinus infection last?

A sinus infection usually lasts 7 to 10 days. Symptoms that last longer, or improve and then get worse, may be a bacterial infection that needs antibiotics.

Is it a sinus infection or a cold?

A cold usually improves within a week. A sinus infection lasts longer and brings face pressure and thick mucus. Many sinus infections start as a cold.

Do I need antibiotics for a sinus infection?

Most sinus infections do not need antibiotics because they are caused by viruses. Antibiotics help when symptoms last more than 10 days, worsen after improving, or come with high fever and face pain.

Can urgent care treat a sinus infection?

Yes, urgent care can treat a sinus infection. At Vitality Urgent Care, a provider can examine your sinuses, ears, and throat to tell viral from bacterial.

Is a sinus infection contagious?

A sinus infection itself is not very contagious, but the cold virus that often causes it is. Handwashing and covering coughs help prevent spreading it.

Last reviewed October 2026