Treatment for Sinusitis or Sinus Infection in Many & Leesville, LA
How To Know If You Have A Sinus Infection
Almost everyone has experienced a sinus infection before: the stuffy nose, trouble breathing and facial pain and pressure. It’s an unpleasant but often self-limiting and harmless infection that leads to inflammation of the sinuses. An acute sinus infection, also referred to as sinusitis, usually causes cold-like symptoms including a runny nose. These symptoms are usually mild and only last a couple of weeks before going away on their own; however, sometimes sinus infections can return, last more than 12 weeks or be resistant to at-home care. If you are experiencing sinus infection symptoms several times a year, or if your sinus infection won’t go away, it’s time to visit Sabine Urgent Care in Many And Leesville, LA.
Just about anyone can develop a sinus infection and, in fact, millions of Americans deal with this infection at least once a year. You may be prone to developing sinus infections if you just got over a cold, you have nasal polyps or you have a suppressed immune system. Children may also be more likely to develop sinus infections due to allergies or contracting illnesses from other kids.
These are the most common symptoms of a sinus infection,
- Reduced smell
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose
- Facial pressure and pain
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Referred pain (often felt in the upper teeth)
- Thick nasal discharge, which may also be green or yellow in color
If you have chronic sinusitis then you may also experience a nasal blockage due to severe swelling, as well as congestion, fever, headaches and pus within the nasal cavity. If these symptoms appear it’s time to see you a physician at our urgent care clinic.
Treating Sinus Infections
While many people can treat their infection on their own with rest and simple at-home care (e.g. decongestants), sometimes additional treatment is necessary. In this case, having an ear, nose and throat specialist can help immensely. Your urgent care physician doctor will create a treatment plan that may include a combination of lifestyle changes, home care and medications.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or steroids to fight the infection and to reduce severe inflammation. If your sinus infection is caused by allergies further medication such as an antihistamine may get your allergy symptoms under control and reduce the number of sinus infections you experience throughout the year.
Chronic sinus infections that are resistant to medication and other treatment options may require a minimally invasive procedure or surgery to open up and drain the blocked sinuses.