You may wonder if the sinus is a contagious infection or not. For that reason, let us first understand the cause of the sinus. In general, the sinus is the cause of viruses or bacteria. If it is the virus that causes sinusitis, it is likely to spread to another person. This can also develop cold which can lastly convert into a sinus infection. However, sinus infections are not always caused by viruses. Bacteria and fungi can sometimes be the reason for the cause of infection. If bacteria cause a sinus infection, then it is not contagious. Sinus is also known by another name called rhinosinusitis or sinusitis. If you are going through underlying causes of sinus or sinusitis, you may consider looking for the experts of KIMS Hospital Secunderabad. They will help you feel at home and will give you a peaceful place to continue with your treatment.
Sinusitis related facts and information
- Sinus is a contagious infection especially if it occurs or accompanies a common cold and doesn’t go away within a week or two. You may develop allergies to dust, pollen, certain substances, food, or even a lifestyle.
- Sinusitis can cause nasal congestion, mucus discharge, facial pain, pressure on your facial muscles, fullness, headache, and pain on the sites of the sinus.
- Sinus infection can lead to seasonal allergies and the common cold. You may also experience bouts of pain and congestion that may come and go seasonally or within intervals.
- Sinus infection often causes the abnormal growth of tissues inside the nose (or nasal polyps), an uneven wall of tissues between the nostrils, other respiratory or dental-related problems or chest congestion, etc.
- If you experience lengthy or repeated episodes of nasal congestion, it is called chronic sinusitis. It is the main cause of chronic issues for people living in colder regions where the winters often cause the arrival of different viruses.
- You can utilize over-the-counter medications to work with the relief of sinus infection however if you still feel uncomfortable, you can try different massages or home remedies especially for sinus infections. These massages are made to calm the triggers of sinus points. This may give you temporary relief.
- Massage promotes drainage. It eases congestion. You can use your fingers to massage the sinus points and give yourself relief for a few minutes.
What may cause the transmission of the contagious disease?
Sinuses often lead to the formation of fluid. This leads to the development of germs and bacteria at the sites of sinus points. A common cause of sinus infection is:
- Viruses that cause cold or flu
- bacteria
- fungi
- nasal polyps, which are abnormal growths in the nose
- nasal tumors
- Allergies or allergens like dust particles, pollens, mud, dirty clothes, used utensils, etc.
The primary cause of sinus infection is a virus. Sinus is a contagious infection only when it is caused by viruses. Any doctor can guarantee that it may have spread to your family members in case it is a virus. This may start with the common symptoms of a cold. This may later turn into a sinus infection but this is not always the case with the disease.
You may likely spread the disease to another person through coughing or sneezing. Try to cover your nose and mouth. This may prevent the spreading of infection. If the cause of the disease is bacteria, then it may not be contagious. In such a case, this will not spread to others. Bacterial infections are less common. Most of the time, less than 2 percent of sinus infections are caused by bacteria.
What are the different types of sinusitis?
Acute sinusitis
Acute sinusitis occurs for the shortest duration. In case it is a viral infection, it may last till one or two weeks and in case it is a bacterial infection, it may last till 4 weeks. Acute Sinusitis can also lead to seasonal allergies.
Subacute sinusitis
It is the type of infection that lasts up to 3 months. In this case, also, you can develop seasonal allergies which may occur because of bacterial causes.
Chronic sinusitis
The symptoms of chronic sinusitis last up to 3 months. In this case, it is the bacterial growth that is to be blamed. It can convert into persistent allergies or can also create structural nasal problems.
What are the common symptoms of sinusitis?
The common symptoms of sinusitis include:
- Pressure in the points of sinus including forehead, upper jaw, cheeks, between the eyes.
- headache
- stuffy nose
- Losing the ability to smell
- nasal discharge
- postnasal drip which is the mucus that goes down the throat from the nose
- irritated throat
- cough
Since the sinus is a contagious infection, it has a strong connection with people living in colder regions like Canada, the USA, etc. The duration of symptoms of each type of sinus may vary. The symptoms of acute sinusitis are temporary and may develop because of the cold. It typically lasts up to 7-10 days. In this case, a bacterial infection is a major cause. On the other hand, chronic sinusitis is a long-term problem and may recur after a certain time. It may last up to 12 weeks or even longer.
Treatment for sinusitis infections
There are many home-based remedies that can help you have temporary relief from a sinus infection. Most of the time, treatment plans starts with:
- saline nasal sprays
- Over-the-counter decongestants
- painkillers or relievers
- Over-the-counter fever medicines
- antihistamines
- mucus thinners
- rest
If any of these home-based remedies or over-the-counter treatments don’t work for you, you should immediately seek medical help from a professional doctor. In case of an emergency, only a doctor may help you.
Your doctor may prescribe you antibiotics that will work perfectly for your infection. They may also check your nasal culture to test whether the infection is caused by bacteria or viruses.
Outlook
If the cause of a sinus infection is a virus, it can possibly spread to other people. In most virus infections, a common cold is a persistent condition that happens with anyone. Try to clean your body and make your hands free from germs. It may spread to others. If possible, stay away from crowded areas and keep yourself surrounded by nature like fresh air, full-body exercises, healthy food, healthy diet, hydration and taking at least 8 glasses of water, and taking proper care of the body with the basics of hygiene.
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