Sinusitis or Cold?

Frequently Asked Question is:

How can I tell if I have a cold or if it is a sinus infection that I need to see the doctor for?

Colds are especially easy to catch in late fall and winter because we stay inside more where the heated air is dry and germs can more easily spread from person to person. To avoid picking up those germs floating around, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to wash your hands frequently. When you wash, take time to really srub all of your hand surfaces. If a family member has a cold, ask them to sneeze into their sleeve or a tissue. Keeping those germs off of hands that touch other surfaces around the home will help prevent the spread of germs. Here are some signs that the cold may have turned into an infectin that needs attention. If you have 3 or more of these symptoms, call us for an appointment and come in to be seen.

• Facial pressure/pain
• Thick yellow-green nasal discharge
• Headache
• Congestion/stuffy nose
• Post-nasal drip
• Cold symptoms for more than 10 days
• Low grade fever
• Pain in upper teeth.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology has excelent patient information sheets about the sinuses, medical treatments for sinus infections and surgical options. Check them out at http://www.entnet.org/.