Sinus Infection: How to Feel Better Quickly
Sinus infections are a very common type of infection that can happen to almost anyone. However, just because they’re common doesn’t make them any easier to deal with. A sinus infection develops when your sinuses become inflamed, and inflammation inside your nasal cavity can cause some pretty unpleasant side effects. Learn more about symptoms and treatment options for sinus infections.
Symptoms of a Sinus Infection
The symptoms of a sinus infection can vary quite a bit depending on the severity of the infection and the person. A few symptoms you may experience include a headache, stuffy nose, runny nose, cough, sore throat, tiredness, a fever, and foul-smelling breath.
How long these symptoms last and how often you develop a sinus infection can help a medical professional determine what type of sinus infection you have. For example, a sinus infection can be bacterial or viral. Depending on how long an infection lasts and how many times per year you develop an infection, it may be acute, subacute, chronic, or recurrent.
Treating a Sinus Infection
If you have a bacterial sinus infection, the medical professional you see will likely prescribe antibiotics as part of your treatment plan. Additional treatment options for bacterial and viral sinus infections may include a nasal decongestant medication or spray, a nasal saline wash, an antihistamine, or nasal corticosteroids. Getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of water can also help you feel better.
Acute and subacute sinus infections may not require additional medical attention after your first visit. However, if you suffer from chronic or recurrent sinus infections, you may need to see a medical specialist to help get the infections under control or possibly determine the underlying cause.
A medical professional at your local FastMed Urgent Care clinic can determine if you have a sinus infection, what type you have, if you need prescription medication, and whether or not you need to see a specialist to manage the infection. If you do need to be referred to a specialist, we’ll make the appointment for you, and we’ll forward your digital medical records, test results, and X-rays.
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About FastMed
FastMed Urgent Care owns and operates nearly 200 centers in North Carolina, Arizona and Texas that provide a broad range of acute/episodic and preventive healthcare services 365 days a year. FastMed also provides workers’ compensation and other occupational health services at all its centers, and family and sports medicine services at select locations. FastMed has successfully treated more than six million patients and is the only independent urgent care operator in North Carolina, Arizona and Texas to be awarded The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for quality, safety and infection control in ambulatory healthcare. For more information about locations, services, hours of operation, insurance and prices, visit www.fastmed.com.