Cold Vs. Sinus Infection - How to Tell the Difference, According to Experts - Prevention.com
When you develop a stuffy nose, it's easy to assume you have a cold (once you rule out COVID-19, of course). But, if that stuffiness continues or even starts to feel worse, you might start to wonder if you're venturing into sinus infection territory—and that raises a lot of questions about colds vs. sinus infections and how these two are really different. Just know this: While they can cause some similar symptoms, colds and sinus infections are actually pretty distinct illnesses. Here's what you need to know about having a cold vs. a sinus infection.
What is a cold?
The common cold is an upper respiratory illness that can be caused by a slew of viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those viruses can include rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenoviruses, and coronaviruses.
Common cold viruses spread from infected people to others through the air and close contact, the CDC says. You can also pick up a cold by shaking hands with someone who is infected or touching a surface that has one of the viruses on it and then touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
Symptoms of the common cold usually include:
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Headaches
- Body aches
What is a sinus infection?
A sinus infection, aka sinusitis, happens when fluid fills up in your sinuses (air-filled pockets in your face), allowing germs to grow, the CDC says. Most sinus infections are caused by viruses, but some can be sparked by bacteria.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), symptoms of sinus infections can include:
- Postnasal drip
- Greenish nasal discharge
- Nasal stuffiness or congestion
- Facial tenderness under the eyes or at the bridge of the nose
- Frontal headaches
- Pain in the teeth
- Coughing
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Bad breath
How do you treat the common cold?
Unfortunately, there's no cure for a cold. Instead, the CDC recommends getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids. You can take over-the-counter cold medications, but they won't speed up the course of your illness.
Worth noting, per the CDC: Because the common cold is caused by viruses, antibiotics—which treat bacterial infections—won't help you get better.
Of course, you want relief from your symptoms, too. Susan Besser, M.D., a primary care physician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, recommends taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and aches and a decongestant if you are uncomfortably stuffy. "Honey is also excellent for coughs," she says. (You can try taking a small spoonful of the liquid or stirring it into tea.) A steroid nasal spray like fluticasone (Flonase) can also help, she says.
Ultimately for a cold, "symptomatic treatment is best," Dr. Besser says.
How do you treat a sinus infection?
It depends. Most sinus infections usually get better on their own, the CDC says. But, if your sinus infection is caused by bacteria, you may need antibiotics, the ACAAI says.
If your doctor decides that you need antibiotics, you may be prescribed a course of the medication that lasts anywhere from three to 28 days, with longer treatments usually prescribed for people with more severe cases, the ACAAI says.
However, the ACAAI warns against overusing antibiotics and recommends that people with symptoms of a sinus infection only take antibiotics if their symptoms last beyond seven to 10 days.
You can also try the following to get relief, per the ACAAI:
- Use nasal decongestant sprays for three to four days.
- Take antihistamines.
- Try a topical nasal corticosteroid spray.
- Use a saline nasal wash.
Can a cold turn into a sinus infection?
The CDC lists having a previous cold as one of the risk factors of developing a sinus infection, along with seasonal allergies, smoking, structural problems with the nose, and a weakened immune system.
So, yes, a cold can turn into a sinus infection. "It's uncommon, but it certainly can happen," Benjamin Bleier, M.D., an ear, nose, and throat surgeon at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. You can't technically diagnose a sinus infection at home on your own, but he recommends keeping an eye on the timing of your illness to try to figure out what's happening with your sinuses.
"If you have symptoms for less than a week or seven to 10 days but they're improving, that's consistent with a viral illness," he says. "It's only when you start to get to the end of that time period and symptoms aren't improving or they started to get better but all of the sudden they got worse—those are the times to think about a bacterial infection."
The "implication" in those situations, Dr. Bleier says, is that your cold converted to a sinus infection. But again, he says, "it's not common in an otherwise healthy person."
When should you see a doctor about your symptoms?
Dr. Bleier recommends giving it at least a week. "If your symptoms are not responding to the usual home remedies like rest, decongestants, and saline irrigations in seven to 10 days, or they improved but then got worse, it's certainly reasonable to see somebody," he says.
And, if you regularly find yourself in this situation, Dr. Bleier recommends consulting an ear, nose, and throat specialist to make sure you don't have an underlying sinus issue.
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