Dripping noses, head congestion, and stuffy noses are common winter occurrences. But, it can be challenging to know whether the cause of these symptoms is a common cold or sinusitis.
This article discusses the differences to look for when trying to figure out whether you have a cold or something more serious.
What is a common cold?
There are over 200 known viruses that can cause a cold, but the most common ones come from a family of viruses called rhinoviruses. These viruses are responsible for up to 40% of all colds (lung.org).
Cold symptoms typically include:
- Sore throat
- Nose and sinus congestion
- Thick and sometimes discolored discharge
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Can also develop a cough and hoarseness
However, the tricky part of these symptoms is that many overlap with sinusitis.
What is sinusitis?
The sinuses are a connected group of air-filled spaces in your skull that produce mucus to catch germs and other pollutants. They are located between your eyes and behind your nose, cheeks, and forehead. The walls of the sinuses have tiny hairlike structures called cilia that sweep the outflow of mucus into your nose.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses that can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or allergies. It occurs when the cilia cannot do their job properly, and the mucus gets trapped in the sinuses. This allows germs to grow and leads to infection.
Acute sinusitis usually starts with a cold and then develops into something more serious.
Symptoms include:
- Nasal and sinus congestion
- Thick, discolored discharge
- Pain or pressure in the forehead, cheeks, or nose
- Decreased sense of smell
- Fever
- Bad breath
In sinusitis, these symptoms usually last for more than 10 days. If you have any of these symptoms, it is vital to see a doctor to get the proper diagnosis and treatment.
Left untreated, sinusitis can lead to severe complications, including meningitis, bone infections, or vision problems.
How to tell the difference
If you believe you have a cold, but the symptoms linger for more than 10 days without any relief, it is possible that you have a sinus infection. However, this is not the case with bacterial sinus infections, where patients see little to no improvement even after 10 days have passed.
There is another pattern of symptoms which includes an illness that seemingly improves after a couple days but then takes a turn for the worse.
What to do
Colds are generally only treated symptomatically because there is no known cure. acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help with pain relief. Home remedies like salt water rinses or aromatherapy might improve nasal symptoms. Be sure to maintain a healthy diet and drink lots of fluids to keep your energy up!
Sinus infections caused by bacteria may be antibiotic-resistant but can eventually get better on their own.
If your infection does not seem to improve or you continuously experience symptoms, contact the ENT experts at Greater Knoxville ENT. Call (865) 244-4396 to request an appointment.