Trusted sinus infection treatments and hassle-free online care

The sinuses are four open spaces in your head that make mucus. A sinus infection (or sinusitis) occurs when these spaces become inflamed.

Bacterial infections, viral infections and allergies can cause sinus cavity swelling. This can lead to blockages and fluid in the sinuses. As a result, you might feel pain or pressure in your face along with a runny nose or other symptoms.

Most sinus infections are caused by viruses or bacteria. Bacterial sinus infections can be treated with medications like antibiotics and decongestants. If your symptoms last longer than 10 days—or if they get better and then suddenly get worse than the original symptoms—you might have a bacterial sinus infection.

Other types of sinus infections are caused by allergies. There aren’t any medications to cure these types of sinus infections. But over-the-counter allergy medications and pain relievers can help with related symptoms like pain and congestion.

Since many sinus infections are caused by viruses, prescription antibiotics won’t help. So many people can care for their sinus infections at home. If you’ve had symptoms for less than a week, you can try at-home treatments including:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants
• OTC cold and allergy medications
• Saline nasal rinses (or a neti pot)
• Drinking lots of fluids

If your sinus infection won't go away, your symptoms last longer than 10 days or you have any other concerns, talk to a medical provider. Seek emergency help if you experience severe symptoms. These include vision changes, a very high fever (over 103° F), mental confusion, seizures or a stiff neck.

Symptoms of a sinus infection can be confused with allergies, the common cold or Covid-19. If you suspect that you may have chronic sinusitis versus another health condition, here are some clues about what might be causing your symptoms:

• Allergies: Allergies can include congestion, runny nose and mucus. But it does not usually include facial pain. Facial pain is a hallmark of a sinus infection.
• Colds: Colds are caused by viruses. Cold symptoms usually build gradually, peak, and slowly disappear over a few days to a week.
• Covid-19: Covid-19 can include all sinus infection symptoms, including nasal congestion and feeling tired. But it usually also includes shortness of breath and fever.

Allergies, colds and Covid-19 can all cause a sinus infection to develop. So you can have more than one of these conditions at the same time. To find out what’s causing your symptoms, talk to a medical provider or sinus infection doctor.

Consultation: A virtual medical consultation for a sinus infection costs $15, which is lower than most doctor copays. Currently, we don’t submit medical consultation claims to insurance companies. But you can use insurance for any resulting prescription at your pharmacy.

Medication: Dr. B only charges for the medical consultation. When medications are prescribed, we let you choose the most affordable or convenient pharmacy to fill the prescription. Your medication prices will vary depending on your insurance coverage and whether the drug is a brand or generic.