A UK doctor has explained how best to treat acute sinusitis, warning it's a problem 'everyone seems to have at the moment'. Dr Ahmed, known for creating educational content as @dra_says, shared advice for dealing with sinusitis, more commonly known as a sinus infection, in a recent TikTok video. He also debunked common myths associated with the problem, caused by the swelling of the sinuses.
First up, the health expert explained what causes sinusitis and the 'chronic cough' sometimes associated with it. "It's almost always caused by a viral infection rather than a bacterial one," he shared. "A green-yellow-brown discharge from your nose does not mean it's a bacterial infection. This actually is very common in a viral infection as well."
Unfortunately, it can take days or even weeks for the symptoms to clear up. "This infection can last for seven to ten days, and it can take four weeks for symptoms to completely go away. The most common reason for a bacterial infection is actually a viral infection that has not got better and the inflammation has got severe enough for bacterial infection to develop," said Dr Ahmed.
However, you can treat the symptoms with over-the-counter medicines. "The best treatment for this is saline nasal washes, decongestants and anti-inflammatories," the GP suggested.
Explaining why some people experience a 'chronic cough', he added: "This is part of something called a post-nasal drip. This is where all the inflammation and the gunk from your sinuses goes to the back of your throat and this causes a cough. This is most common at night."
According to the NHS, sinusitis is common after flu or cold. The main symptoms include:
- pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead
- a blocked or runny nose
- a reduced sense of smell
- green or yellow mucus from your nose
- a high temperature
Other possible symptoms include headache, toothache, bad breath, a cough and a feeling of pressure in the ears. The NHS says you can usually treat sinusitis without seeing a GP by getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, taking painkillers, not smoking, avoiding allergy triggers and cleaning your nose with a salt water solution.
A pharmacist can assist with salt water nasal sprays or decongestant nasal sprays. See a GP if you are very unwell, you keep getting sinusitis, painkillers do not help, your symptoms get worse, or your symptoms do not get better after three weeks.