The Common Cold, Flu or a Sinus Infection?

Change in Seasons Brings on Host of Uncomfortable Ailments

As cold and flu season prepares to descend upon us once again, legions of people are hurrying to their physician's office or the local pharmacy in     search of flu shots and cold remedies. And such precautionary measures are understandable and necessary.

Consider a study in the early part of the decade conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan. That study estimated that 189 million school days are missed each year because of the common cold, while 126 million workdays are missed by parents staying home to be with their sick children. The cost of those missed work days is estimated to be well over $10 billion annually. And that doesn't even account for workers staying home because they happen to be sick. Those instances cost another 70 million workdays and another $8 billion.

While the common cold is certainly costly, it's not the only way many people suffer as the seasons change. As the season changes from warm or mild to cold, many people cling to their summer gear and could be leaving themselves open to a viral infection, which could very well be followed by a sinus infection. Often mistaken, at least initially, as a cold or flu, a sinus infection, or sinusitis, is an inflammation of the tissue lining the sinuses. Under normal circumstances, the sinuses are filled with air. However, when sinuses become blocked and fill with fluid, germs can grow and result in infection. Blockage of the sinuses can be caused by the common cold, an allergic swelling of the lining of the nose or a deviated septum. Because a common cold can lead to a sinus infection, there exists a misconception that a sinus infection is the common cold. However, sinusitis is more than just the common cold, and can stick around a lot longer as well.

Types of Sinusitis

A case of sinusitis can fall into one of three categories: acute sinusitis, chronic sinusitis and subacute sinusitis.

* Acute sinusitis. Acute is sudden, and its symptoms mirror those of the common cold, including a runny, congested nose and facial pain. These symptoms will last longer than 7-10 days, unlike those of a typical cold.

* Chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis sufferers will feel the same symptoms as those suffering from acute sinusitis, but the inflammation will last 8 weeks or longer.

* Subacute sinusitis. Subacute sinusitis occurs when symptoms last anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks.

Causes of Sinusitis

In addition to viral infections, there are a host of other circumstances that can cause sinusitis. Bacteria, for example, can cause sinusitis. That's particularly the case when some anaerobes, or bacteria that live without oxygen, are involved in chronic sinusitis. As mentioned earlier, sinuses are normally filled with air. Bacteria that can live without oxygen, however, can block the sinuses and lead to an infection.

Symptoms of Sinusitis

The symptoms of sinusitis vary depending on which type of sinusitis a person is experiencing. However, it's important to note that many symptoms mirror those of the common cold. So if it seems as if a cold has proven especially difficult to kick, consulting a physician should be considered.

People with acute sinusitis can expect to feel nasal congestion with either discharge or post nasal drip (wherein the 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, a headache in the temple or surrounding the eye, and possibly even a fever. Facial pain can even extend across the cheekbone and headaches can be severe.

The symptoms of chronic sinusitis are can be similar, they simply stick around longer and can be more painful. Pain is often its worst in the late morning or when wearing eyeglasses, and the throat could be chronically sore while a person will suffer from bad breath. Facial pain can manifest itself into pressure below the eye, while sufferers might also have a chronic toothache. A cough resulting from chronic sinusitis will be worse at night and general discomfort will increase as the day wears on.

Treatment of Sinusitis

It's best for anyone suspecting they have sinusitis to consult a physician. Some sufferers of sinusitis have treated themselves at home with mixed results. One of the main goals of treatment is to promote drainage, so drinking plenty of water and other hydrating beverages, including tea, can help.

Other parts of treating sinusitis include thinning the mucus that forms in the lungs and respiratory packages, as well as pain relief to help deal with headaches. However, the best advice is to seek professional help and not mistake sinusitis for the common cold.