Sinusitis
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What are the sinuses?
The sinuses are small, air-filled spaces which are found behind your cheekbones and forehead. They’re responsible for filtering and humidifying the air you breathe. They’re also responsible for producing mucus, which helps trap and expel particles, such as dust and bacteria.
This mucus normally drains into your nose, but if you have sinusitis, the mucus can’t be drained as the sinus linings are inflamed. This leads to a build-up of mucus and increased pressure.
What are the symptoms of sinusitis?
The inflammation of the sinuses can cause a range of symptoms which can vary in severity. In sinusitis, the sinus openings become blocked as the lining is inflamed. This stops mucus from draining properly, which makes you feel blocked up.
Common symptoms can include:
- A blocked nose
- A green or yellow mucus coming from your nose
- Pain and tenderness around your eyes, cheeks or forehead
- A sinus headache
- A fever (a high temperature of 38°C or more)
- Toothache
- A reduced sense of smell
- Bad breath (halitosis)
If your child has sinusitis, their symptoms can include common symptoms and the following:
- Irritability
- Breathing through their mouth
- Difficulty feeding
- Nasal speech (like they have a stuffy cold)
If you have sinusitis your symptoms will often clear up in a few weeks. If you have long-term sinusitis, symptoms may last for 3 months or more.
What causes sinusitis?
Sinusitis can be acute (short-term) or can become chronic (long-lasting). Long-term sinusitis has been linked to:
- Allergies and related conditions which include allergic rhinitis, hayfever and asthma
- Nasal polyps (growths inside the nose)
- Smoking
- A weakened immune system
Sinusitis can have several causes including:
- Viral infections (most common)
- Bacterial infections (less common)
- An infected tooth (occasionally)
- Fungal infections (occasionally)
Making sure conditions like asthma and allergies are controlled can help to improve the symptoms of long-term sinusitis. Read our tips on managing your asthma, hayfever and allergies. If you’re still struggling with managing symptoms, speak to your GP or pharmacist for more advice.
Treating a sinus infection at home
If you or your child have sinusitis, it’s not always necessary to speak to your GP. You may start to feel better within 2 or 3 weeks. There are things you can do at home which can help provide relief for mild sinusitis such as:
- Getting plenty of rest
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Taking over-the-counter pain relief. Some pain relief isn’t suitable for everyone, so it’s important to check the patient information leaflet and read the label before taking them
- Using nasal decongestants. These shouldn’t be used for more than a week as they can make your sinusitis worse
- Holding a warm compress like the Boots Reusable Hot and Cold Compress to your face
- Avoiding allergic triggers and not smoking
You can also try cleaning the inside of your nose regularly with saline solution. Nasal saline solutions are available to purchase or can be made at home. You don’t need to use all the solution, but make sure to make a fresh solution every time you clean your nose. If you have a high temperature or you don’t feel well enough to go about your day normally, try to stay at home and avoid contact with others until you feel better.
To clean your nose with a homemade salt water solution:
- Boil a pint of water and then leave it to cool down
- Mix 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda into the water
- Wash your hands
- Stand over a sink and pour a small amount of the solution into your hand
- Sniff the water into 1 nostril at a time while breathing through your mouth and allowing the water to pour back into the sink. Try to avoid letting this water go down the back of your throat
- Repeat the first 5 steps up to 3 times a day until your nose feels better
How can a pharmacist help?
Under the NHS Pharmacy First Service32, our pharmacists are now equipped to provide even more support for your sinusitis concerns.
If you’re experiencing sinusitis symptoms for more than 10 days, with at least 2 of the following:
- Blocked nose or runny nose
- Facial pain
- Loss or reduction of sense of smell in adults
- Coughing during the day or night in children
Speak to a Boots pharmacist before heading to your GP.
No appointment is needed, and we can offer advice and treatment, including prescription medicines where appropriate, for individuals aged 12 and over living in England. It's a convenient option to address minor health concerns without the need for a GP visit.
However, certain criteria and exclusions apply, including pregnant women under 16, individuals with symptoms lasting more than 12 weeks or those who are immunosuppressed.
In some cases, it might be necessary to see your GP, especially if your symptoms are severe, pain relief isn't helping, or if you continue to experience sinusitis. If symptoms persist or worsen after 3 months or are limited to one side of your face, consult your GP for further evaluation.
It's crucial to seek immediate medical attention at A&E if you have sinusitis and:
- Notice signs of meningitis
- Have a frontal headache
- Experience swelling over the frontal bone
- Have complications like orbital cellulitis, displaced eyeball, and reduced vision
Visit your local Boots pharmacy today for expert advice and treatments to help manage your sinusitis symptoms. Please note, that during busier periods, a pharmacist may not be available and waiting times can vary.
Meet our pharmacists
We’re talking to our pharmacists across the UK to bring you advice on our services, how pharmacists can help you and whether a pharmacist should be your first port of call over the GP.
This week, we’re joined by Vuyani Chinyowa, a pharmacist working at a Boots store in Merry Hill. Vuyani discusses the NHS Pharmacy First Service and how pharmacists can help with 7 common conditions. Our pharmacists are always here to help in any way that they can.
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Frequently Asked Questions
To help treat mild sinusitis, you can:
- Rest
- Stay hydrated
- Use over-the-counter products like a saline nasal spray or pain relief medicines to help relieve symptoms
Sometimes, warm compresses may also help ease the discomfort. We’ve covered more in the ‘Treating a sinus infection at home’ section of the page. Our pharmacists are also equipped to help support you if you have a sinus infection under the NHS Pharmacy First Service32
Most sinus infections don’t need antibiotics. They can often clear up on their own. This is because most sinus infections are usually caused by a virus, not bacteria – so antibiotics will rarely work.
If you’re feeling unwell with sinusitis, have a high temperature or don’t feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid getting in contact with other people until you’re feeling better.
Sinusitis usually gets better on its own within 2 or 3 weeks, but if a sinus infection goes untreated, it can sometimes lead to more serious complications. These can include:
- A prolonged infection
- In rare cases, the infection spreads to other parts of the body
It’s important to keep an eye on your symptoms and speak to your GP if:
- Your symptoms are severe or getting worse
- You keep getting a sinus infection
- Your symptoms aren’t improving after 3 weeks
There isn’t a ‘best’ medicine for a sinus infection. The medicine you need depends on your symptoms. Over-the-counter pain relief medicines, decongestants and saline nasal sprays can help.
You can also speak to a pharmacist for expert advice and treatments to help manage your sinusitis symptoms. If your symptoms are severe or persistent, your doctor may prescribe other treatments.
Sinusitis usually clears up on its own within 2 to 3 weeks. If your symptoms aren’t getting better after three weeks, make sure to speak to a GP.
1Subject to availability. Eligibility criteria may apply. Charges may apply.
32Supply of treatment is subject to a suitability assessment. In most stores in England only. Subject to availability and store opening hours. Charges may apply.
