Can you pass on a sinus infection? Sinus infections are among Americans’ most common (and annoying) health problems. They can cause painful sinus pressure, stuffy noses, headaches, and other symptoms that can last weeks and make it hard to do normal things. People are likely to wonder if sinus infections can spread or not. This question’s answer is: it depends!
Viruses, bacteria, or fungi can cause a sinus infection. However, viruses are the most common cause of sinus infections. If a virus causes your sinus infection, it can spread to others. Sinus infections are often caused by viruses that spread from the cold virus, so you are more likely to pass on the cold than a sinus infection.
On the other hand, sinus infections caused by fungi or bacteria are not contagious, but they are rare. If you have a sinus infection, it’s best to assume it’s caused by a virus and take as many precautions as possible, like staying home from work or school.
How Do I Get Rid Of This Infection In My Nose?
When you have a viral sinus infection, rest is one of the vital things you can do to improve. Viruses have to run their course, so getting a lot of rest may help you feel better faster and in less time. It’s also important to drink a lot of water and avoid things like cigarette smoke, strong perfumes, and airborne allergens that can irritate your sinuses even more.
Even though treatments can’t “cure” a viral sinus infection, you can do a few things to feel better while you’re getting better. Use a saline nasal spray to clean out your sinuses and an over-the-counter decongestant to make it easier for you to breathe. Symptoms of a viral sinus infection usually last between seven and ten days.
Even though many sinus infections can be treated on your own, you should see a doctor right away if:
- You’ve got a fever.
- After a week, your symptoms don’t get better.
- Your symptoms get better, but then they get worse.
- You have very bad symptoms, like severe headaches and pressure in your sinuses.
If any of these things happen, it could mean that your sinus infection is long-lasting or is caused by something other than a virus. If this is the case, you may be given antibiotics or another type of treatment, like a corticosteroid or antihistamine spray.
Sinus infections rarely lead to serious problems, but sometimes they do.
1. Unknown And New Neck Stiffness
- Sudden confusion
- swelling around the eyes or forehead that can be seen
- Seeing double or having trouble seeing
2. Sinus Drainage
You know how it feels. Your nose is clogged or dripping like a faucet, and your head feels like a vice. Because your eyes are sore and puffy, it feels better to keep them shut. And it feels like nails got stuck in your throat.
Having sinus problems can be painful. But you can ease the pain and discomfort of sinus problems with remedies like chicken soup and compresses that work well.
- Water, water, and more water
- Drink fluids and run a humidifier or vaporizer.
Why Does This Matter?
Mucus gets thinner, and your sinuses drain better when you drink water and use a humidifier. They also keep your sinuses moist and your skin from drying out.
- Hot drinks, like herbal tea, can be a great way to stay hydrated. The steam from hot drinks gives you another benefit.
- Irrigating the nose South Agency/Getty Images
- Nasal irrigation is a great way to get rid of stuffiness and irritation in the nose.
- Saline irrigation is using a saline solution to flush your nose gently. You can do this with a neti pot, a special squeeze bottle, or a bulb syringe.
- A neti pot is a cheap device that looks like Aladdin’s lamp and is used to clean the nose. The salt mixture can be bought already packed. You can also make them yourself by doing the following:
- Add one teaspoon of baking soda to 3 teaspoons of iodine-free salt to make a dry mixture.
- Dissolve one teaspoon of the dry mixture in 1 cup (8 ounces) of distilled, sterilized, or filtered water.
- To catch the liquid, you must rinse your sinuses while standing over a sink or basin. Pour, spray, or squirt much of the solution into one nostrilDo this with each of your noses. It also gets rid of bacteria and things that hurt the skin.
- After each use, clean your neti pot very well because bacteria can grow inside. Also, you should never drink straight tap water because it might have bacteria that can make your sinuses sick. If you do use water from the tap, make sure to boil it first.
3. Steam
Mucus is broken up by steam, which helps relieve congestion.
Use a bowl of hot water and a big towel to give yourself a steam bath. If you want, you can add oils of menthol, camphor, or eucalyptus to the water. Put the towel over your head to hang over the bowl and trap the steam inside. This is what most people do until the steam goes away. The steam from a hot shower can also help, but the effect is weaker.
4. A commercial For Chicken Soup
One study from 2000 found that chicken soup helps reduce the inflammation of stuffy noses and colds. Then what’s the trick? Scientists haven’t figured out what makes chicken soup work, but they think the steam and the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of the soup’s ingredients help clear the sinuses.
5. Compresses That Are Hot Or Cold
- Try alternating warm and cold compresses on your sinuses.
- Lay back for three minutes with a warm compress on your nose, cheeks, and forehead.
- For 30 seconds, take off the warm compress and put on a cold one instead.
- Do this twice or thrice.
- This can be done anywhere from two to six times a day.
6. Manuka Honey
Honey may be a good alternative if a bacterial infection causes your stuffy nose. Some research suggests that honey may be able to kill bacteria. Manuka honey, in particular, can be used in many ways to help people feel better. Try putting some manuka honey in a warm cup of herbal tea.
What Makes Your Sinuses Hurt?
Sinus problems can be caused by many things, like sinusitis or rhinitis. Allergic Sinusitis is an infection that makes your sinuses swell up and hurt. Chronic sinusitis is a condition that causes inflammation and usually lasts more than three months. This sinusitis can cause non cancerous growths in the nose called nasal polyps.
If you have rhinitis, your immune system causes histamines to be released, which irritate the lining of your nose. This causes stuffy noses and sneezes. Sinusitis can be brought on by allergic rhinitis.
When You Should See A Doctor
If Symptoms that last more than ten days include a fever of 102°F (38.9°C) or higher symptoms that get worse, like a spike in your fever or more greenish nasal discharge changes in your vision The AAO-HNS says about 30 million Americans get sinusitis at least once a year. But these simple things you can do at home can help relieve your symptoms and make it easier for you to breathe.
Myths And Facts About Sinus Infections
Myth: Sinusitis always spreads to other people.
Sinusitis is not always spread from person to person. Some cases are caused by viruses or bacteria that can spread from one person to another. Allergies, irritants, or structural problems cause other cases.
Myth: The only way to get sinusitis is from someone who already has it.
Sinusitis is often spread by close contact with someone who has it, but things like pollen or pollution in the air can also cause it.
Myth: You can only catch sinusitis if you have symptoms.
Sinusitis can spread before symptoms appear because the viruses or bacteria that cause the infection can already be in the body.
If you have sinusitis, you shouldn’t talk to other people. If you have a contagious form of sinusitis, avoiding close contact with others is best, but you don’t have to stay away from everyone. Good hygiene, like washing your hands often and covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing, can help keep infections from spreading.
