Sinusitis, often called a sinus infection, is one of the most common reasons Australians start to feel wretched for a week or two after a cold. The good news is that most cases get better on their own, without antibiotics. It is worth knowing what to expect, what actually helps, and the handful of warning signs that mean you should see a doctor.
What is sinusitis?
Your sinuses are hollow, air-filled spaces in the bones around your nose, eyes, cheeks and forehead. Sinusitis is when the lining of these spaces becomes inflamed, usually swelling up and producing more mucus than can naturally drain. It most often develops a few days into a common cold, just when you thought you were starting to improve.
What are the symptoms of a sinus infection?
The typical symptoms of acute sinusitis are:
- facial pain or pressure, often worse when you bend forward or lean over
- a blocked or congested nose
- nasal discharge that may be thick, yellow or green
- a “postnasal drip”, which may feel like mucus trickling down the back of your throat.
You might also notice pressure in your ears, a headache, a reduced sense of smell, aching in your upper teeth, a cough, bad breath, tiredness, or a mild fever. Discoloured (yellow or green) mucus is often assumed to mean a bacterial infection needing antibiotics, but that isn’t reliable: viral sinusitis produces coloured mucus too.
How long does a sinus infection last?
Most acute sinusitis clears up within two to three weeks, and often sooner, without any specific treatment. Because the vast majority of cases are caused by viruses rather than bacteria, they follow the same course as a cold: they build, plateau, and gradually settle as your body clears the infection. If symptoms drag on beyond about 12 weeks, it’s called chronic sinusitis, which is a different situation worth discussing with a doctor.
Do I need antibiotics?
Usually not. Most sinus infections are viral, and antibiotics don’t work against viruses, so they won’t speed up recovery, and they carry side effects and contribute to antibiotic resistance. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care specifically encourages people to weigh this up with their doctor rather than assume antibiotics are needed. Antibiotics are generally only considered when symptoms are severe, when they’ve lasted more than about 10 days without improving, or when they get better and then clearly worsen again, which can suggest a bacterial infection has developed. Even then, it’s a judgement made case by case.
What actually helps?
For most people, the measures that ease symptoms while the infection runs its course are simple, and many are available from your pharmacy without a prescription:
- saline nasal sprays or rinses to flush mucus and relieve congestion, one of the most effective self-care steps
- simple pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for facial pain and headache
- decongestant sprays, but only for a few days, as using them longer can cause rebound congestion that makes things worse
- steroid or anti-allergy nasal sprays, particularly if allergies are contributing
- rest and fluids, the unglamorous but genuinely useful basics
Your pharmacist is a good first port of call for choosing between these options.
When should I see a doctor?
Most sinusitis doesn’t need medical treatment, but see a doctor if:
- your symptoms last more than about 10 days without improving, or improve and then get worse again
- you have a high fever, or you feel very unwell
- you’re getting frequent, recurrent episodes of sinusitis
And seek urgent care, or call 000, if you have any of these rarer but serious warning signs, which can indicate the infection is spreading:
- swelling, redness or pain around one or both eyes
- changes to your vision, such as double or blurred vision
- a severe headache unlike your usual headaches
- a stiff neck, confusion, or drowsiness
These are uncommon, but they matter, because complications of sinusitis can occasionally involve the eye or the brain.
Recurrent or long-lasting sinusitis
If you get sinus infections often, or symptoms that never fully clear, it’s worth seeing a doctor to look for an underlying cause, such as allergies (hay fever is a common culprit), nasal polyps, or a structural issue like a deviated septum. In these cases a GP may recommend allergy management or refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist for a closer look.
Struggling with a sinus infection that won’t shift?
If your symptoms are dragging on or you’d like a doctor’s assessment, a consultation with a Qoctor doctor can be done by video, same day. The doctor will assess whether you need prescription treatment or whether simple measures are the better option, and can arrange an eScript where it’s appropriate.
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Clinical review & governance
Medically reviewed by Dr AIFRIC BOYLAN
CEO
About Dr Aifric Boylan MB BCh BAO MICGP FRACGP DRCOG DCH Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Dr Aifric Boylan is a general practitioner with more than 20 years' experience. She graduated in medicine from…
This health information has been clinically reviewed by an Australian doctor. Qoctor health pages are reviewed to support clear, evidence-informed guidance; they do not replace individual medical advice.
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