Sinus Infection Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of sinus infections depend upon which sinuses are affected and whether the sinus infection is acute or chronic.

Acute sinusitis:

• Ethmoid sinusitis (behind the eyes)
  
  
  • Nasal congestion with discharge or postnasal drip (mucus drips down the throat behind the nose)
    
    
  • Pain or pressure around the inner corner of the eye or down one side of the nose
    
    
  • Headache in the temple or surrounding the eye
    
    
  • Pain or pressure symptoms are worse when coughing, straining, or lying on the back and better when the head is upright
    
    
  • Fever is common
    
    
• Maxillary sinusitis (behind the cheek bones)
  
  
  • Pain across the cheekbone, under or around the eye, or around the upper teeth
    
    
  • Pain or pressure on one side or both
    
    
  • Tender, red, or swollen cheekbone
    
    
  • Pain and pressure symptoms are worse with the head upright and bending forward and better when reclining
    
    
  • Nasal discharge or postnasal drip
    
    
  • Fever is common
    
    
• Frontal sinusitis (behind forehead, one or both sides)
  • Severe headaches in the forehead
    
    
  • Fever is common
    
    
  • Pain is worse when reclining and better with the head upright
    
    
  • Nasal discharge or postnasal drip
    
    
• Sphenoid sinusitis (behind the eyes)
  
  
  • Deep headache with pain behind and on top of the head, across the forehead, and behind the eye
    
    
  • Fever is common
    
    
  • Pain is worse when lying on the back or bending forward
    
    
  • Double vision or vision disturbances if pressure extends into the brain
  • Nasal discharge or postnasal drip

Chronic sinusitis:

• Ethmoid sinusitis
  
  
  • Chronic nasal discharge, obstruction, and low-grade discomfort across the bridge of the nose
    
    
  • Pain is worse in the late morning or when wearing glasses
    
    
  • Chronic sore throat and bad breath