Understanding Sinusitis | When a Cold Doesn’t Go Away in Ansonia, CT

Sinusitis affects roughly 1 in 8 adults each year and can cause significant discomfort if not treated properly.

What Causes Sinusitis?

In many cases, sinusitis begins when viruses or bacteria infect the sinuses (often after a cold) and cause swelling in the sinus lining. This swelling blocks drainage channels, trapping mucus and pus in the sinuses.

Sometimes, sinusitis isn’t caused by an infection at all, as allergies, environmental irritants, or other factors can trigger inflammation without bacteria or viruses being involved.

Acute vs. Chronic Sinusitis

• Acute Sinusitis – Lasts less than 4 weeks.
• Chronic Sinusitis – Symptoms persist for more than 12 weeks.
• Recurrent Acute Sinusitis – Four or more acute episodes in one year, with symptom-free periods in between.

A primary care provider or ENT specialist (otolaryngologist) can determine which type you have and recommend the best treatment.

Symptoms to Watch For

Sinusitis symptoms can range from mild discomfort to persistent, disruptive issues. Recognizing the signs early can help you seek the right treatment and prevent complications.

Acute sinusitis

• Cloudy or colored nasal drainage (up to 4 weeks)
• Stuffy, congested, or blocked nose
• Facial pain, pressure, or fullness
• Cold symptoms that last more than 10 days without improvement or that worsen after getting better

Chronic sinusitis

May include at least two of the following for 12+ weeks:

• Stuffy, congested, or blocked nose
• Facial pain, pressure, or fullness
• Thick nasal drainage
• Loss of smell

Related Conditions

Sometimes sinus pain is actually caused by migraine or tension headaches. If you have sinus pain without nasal discharge, it’s worth discussing migraines or other causes with your doctor.

Treatment Options

The right treatment for sinusitis depends on whether it’s acute or chronic, as well as the underlying cause. While some cases resolve on their own, others may require targeted medical care to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.

Acute Sinusitis

• Most cases (98%) are viral and resolve without antibiotics.
• Relief measures include acetaminophen or ibuprofen, nasal steroid sprays, and saline irrigation.
• Acute bacterial sinusitis may require antibiotics, but many cases improve with “watchful waiting.”

Chronic Sinusitis

• Focuses on controlling inflammation rather than treating infection.
• Common treatments: saline irrigation, nasal steroid sprays, and addressing contributing factors like allergies or polyps.
• Antibiotics may be used in some instances.

When is Surgery Needed?

Surgery is rare for acute sinusitis but may be necessary if infection spreads to the eye, face, or brain.

For chronic sinusitis that doesn’t respond to medication, options include:

• Endoscopic Sinus Surgery – Opens sinus drainage pathways.
• Balloon Sinus Ostial Dilation (BSOD) – Expands sinus openings with a balloon; suitable for specific cases.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Do I have a bacterial infection?
• Will antibiotics help my case?
• Should I get imaging of my sinuses?
• What else could be causing my symptoms?

Whether you’re dealing with acute or chronic sinusitis, our team at Naugatuck Valley ENT provides expert diagnosis and treatment to relieve symptoms and restore healthy sinus function. We also address related conditions like nasal obstruction, offering both surgical and non-surgical options tailored to your needs.

Please Contact Us at (203) 578-4630 to schedule an appointment.

Our noses facilitate breathing by keeping out potentially harmful dirt, allergens, and other agents. However, our noses and sinuses can become infected or inflamed, making breathing uncomfortable or difficult. Learn more about some of the common sinus and nasal conditions Naugatuck Valley ENT can diagnose and treat.

• Deviated Septum is a condition when the nasal septum is off-center. The nasal septum is the bone and cartilage that divides the inside of the nose in half. The bone and cartilage are covered by a special skin called a mucous membrane with many blood vessels. Ideally, the left and right nasal passageways are equal in size. However, it is estimated that as many as 80 percent of people have an off-center nasal septum.
• Fungal Sinusitis is a broad term used to describe various situations when fungus might be involved in the cause or symptoms of nasal and sinus inflammation. Fungus is an entirely separate “kingdom” from plants and animals; it is plant-like but cannot create its own food like plants.
• Geriatric Rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes or nasal cavity lining. Patients with geriatric rhinitis may have nasal obstruction or congestion, runny nose or post-nasal drip, itchy nose, sneezing, and/or nasal dryness or crusting.
• Nasal Fractures or broken noses may result from facial injuries in contact sports or falls. Injuries affecting the teeth and mouth may also affect the nose. If you’ve been struck in the nose, it’s important to see a physician to check for a septal hematoma.
• Nosebleeds (called epistaxis) are caused when tiny blood vessels in the nose break. Nosebleeds are very common and affect many people at some point in their lives. About 60 percent of people will experience a nosebleed in their lifetime, typically young children and adults over the age of 50.
• Sinus Headaches: Not every headache results from sinus and nasal passage problems, as the headache might actually be a migraine or tension headache. The confusion is common, as a migraine can cause irritation of the “trigeminal,” or fifth cranial nerve, a nerve with branches in the forehead, cheeks, and jaw. This may produce pain and nasal symptoms in or near the sinus cavity.
• Sinusitis usually has symptoms of discolored nasal drainage and blockage that last more than 10 days. Sinuses are hollow spaces in the bones around the nose that connect to the nose through small, narrow channels. Sinusitis, also called rhinosinusitis because the symptoms involve both the nose and the sinuses, affects about one in eight adults annually.