What happens if you let a sinus infection go untreated?
It can lead to a brain abscess or meningitis, both of which can be life-threatening. An infection that lingers, gets worse or gets better only to quickly return needs to be treated by a doctor. An antibiotic may be all that’s needed, but in some cases, other treatment may be required.2017-03-03
How long can you have a sinus infection without treatment?
About 70 percent of sinus infections go away within two weeks without antibiotics.2016-02-25
How do you know if a sinus infection is serious?
Pain. When there is excessive pain in your eyes, ears, head or throat, you likely have a severe sinus infection. And if you can’t open your eyes or you feel dizzy, these are major warning signs that your sinusitis is at a dangerous level.
What happens if a sinus infection doesn’t go away?
You may opt to visit an ENT if your sinus infection symptoms last more than one month. However, when a lingering sinus infection after antibiotics lasts more than 12 weeks, it’s definitely time to see a specialist.
What happens if antibiotics don’t work for sinus infection?
If you have a lingering sinus infection after antibiotics, an ENT doctor often elects to be more aggressive in treatment than a primary care physician. They may prescribe longer courses of antibiotics, stronger medications, or recommend a procedure to open the sinuses.
What is the longest a sinus infection can last?
Most cases of acute sinusitis last about a week, but this type of short-term sinus infection can last up to four weeks. If you suffer from a sinus infection that lasts longer than 12 weeks despite treatment from your doctor, it’s considered chronic sinusitis.2017-11-21
What causes sinus infections that won’t go away?
It’s possible for an acute sinus infection to develop into a chronic infection over time. However, most chronic sinus infections are caused by: Problems with the physical structure of your sinuses such as nasal polyps, narrow sinuses, or a deviated septum. Allergies such as hay fever that cause inflammation.2017-11-21
Why does my sinus won’t go away?
Your stuffy nose that just doesn’t seem to go away may be a sign of an underlying issue like allergies. Untreated allergies can cause chronic sinusitis with and without nasal polyps. Fortunately, chronic nasal congestion is very treatable. The first step is to visit a health care provider.
Can a bacterial sinus infection last years?
Acute, which lasts for less than four weeks. Subacute, lasting for between four and 12 weeks. Chronic, lasting for more than 12 weeks. Recurrent acute, occurring four or more times a year, for more than seven days, with symptoms resolving completely in between bouts.2022-04-08
Can a sinus infection last 5 months?
Acute sinusitis lasts up to four weeks. When symptoms persist for more than 12 weeks, you may have chronic sinusitis. But some cases of chronic sinusitis can develop subtly, without a preceding viral infection.2015-03-03
Can you have a sinus infection that lasts for years?
Sinusitis symptoms that last for more than 12 weeks could be chronic sinusitis. In addition to frequent head colds, your risk for chronic sinusitis also goes up if you have allergies. “Chronic sinusitis can be caused by an allergy, virus, fungus, or bacteria and can go on for months or even years,” says Dr. Flores.2013-03-12
How do you know if a sinus infection has spread to your brain?
Encephalitis: This results when the infection spreads to your brain tissue. Encephalitis may not have obvious symptoms beyond a headache, fever, or weakness. But more severe cases can lead to confusion, hallucinations, seizures, difficulty speaking, paralysis, or loss consciousness.2018-03-17
How long is too long to have a sinus infection?
How Long Do Sinus Infections Last? Many variables affect the duration of sinus infections. Most last more than 10 days, but when a sinus infection lasts more than twelve weeks, it is considered chronic sinusitis. If after 10 days, your symptoms have not improved, see your primary care doctor.
Can sinus problems last a long time?
Acute sinusitis only happens for a short time (usually a week), but chronic sinusitis can last for months. Sinusitis is considered chronic after at least 12 weeks of symptoms. Acute sinusitis is usually caused by a cold, but chronic sinusitis can have many other causes.
What happens when a sinus infection doesn’t go away?
If your sinus infection just won’t go away or keeps coming back, it may be time to see an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. An ENT treats conditions of the ear, nose, throat, head, face, and neck. It may be time to see an ENT if: You’ve completed several courses of antibiotics without success.2017-11-21
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