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Sinus Infection vs. Common Cold

Is there a Difference?

Typically, a sinus infection will occur after you have suffered from the common cold. This is because the sinuses are inflamed and swollen from the cold. A cold is a virus that causes an upper respiratory infection, within the nose and throat.

We have all experienced this at one point or another; runny nose, headaches, irritability, congestion, and fatigue. Sometimes a fever and coughing can accompany the other symptoms of a cold. While colds usually last for only a week, if the cold prevents the flow of mucus out of the nasal cavity a sinus infection can form.

You know you have a sinus infection, also known as sinusitis, when your symptoms last longer than a week and you are experiencing yellow discharge, intense facial pressure, headaches, severe congestion and post-nasal drip.

We will treat an infection with antibiotics. If the symptoms persist you may have chronic sinusitis. In which case alternative treatments such as Balloon Sinuplasty are available at Miya & Torchinsky ENT.

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