When you suffer from a sinus infection, there’s usually only one thing on your mind: How do I feel better as quickly as possible? During those uncomfortable moments, it can be easy to forget about the social implications of having a cold or flu.
You probably have friends, family members, and coworkers who don’t want to catch your germs. That’s why we’re here to answer one of the top questions about sinus infections: How long are they contagious?
If you’re sick with a sinus infection, you may not want anyone to know it. These infections can be embarrassing and leave you feeling terrible.
You may worry that others will catch your illness if they spend time with you or even if they just breathe the same air. But how likely is that? Are those around you at risk? Let’s get into the details of how long are sinus infections contagious.
Everyone gets a sinus infection once in a while. But if you get one often, you may be more susceptible to them. Read on to know how long is a sinus infection contagious and the measures you need to take to stay safe from getting it again.
What are the symptoms of a sinus infection?
You can be diagnosed with a sinus infection when you have a couple of symptoms that are related to your sinus cavities. These include
- A Sinus headache – This is the most common symptom of a sinus infection and is present in most cases. It can be mild or severe and can be present on and off for days.
- Swelling around your face and eyes – This is common in people suffering from allergies but may also be caused by a sinus infection. Your eyes may appear swollen and red, you may get a lot of mucus discharge from your nose, and you may experience pain in the cheeks and forehead area.
- Malaise – You may feel unwell and fatigued, and your general health may be compromised during a sinus infection. You may also experience high fevers, severe headaches, and body aches.
How can you prevent yourself from getting a Sinus Infection?
Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is important for your health but is even more so when you are experiencing a sinus infection. Water can help flush out the bacteria and cleanse your nasal passages to get rid of the infection.
Get plenty of rest
A sinus infection is a condition that needs plenty of rest to allow your body to heal the infection. Ensuring that you are getting enough sleep can reduce the risk of getting a sinus infection.
Practice good hygiene
This means practising hand washing, wearing a face mask while coughing or sneezing, covering your cough and being careful while cleaning the house.
Stay away from allergens
If you are prone to allergies, and you know what they are, try to stay away from them. Be careful with dust mites, animals, molds, etc.
Heat and steam
Using a humidifier, hot steam, warm bowls of saline water, etc., may help reduce the pain caused by the infection.
How long does a Sinus Infection last?
A sinus infection can be cured in 2-3 weeks, but it all depends on the person. Generally, it takes 7-10 days for the antibiotics to kick in and get rid of the infection.
But some people might experience the symptoms for a couple of weeks as well. You must also remember that a sinus infection is not always caused by bacteria.
It can be caused by a virus as well in which case a person gets the symptoms within the 2-3 days. The virus lasts for about 10 days.
Is a sinus infection contagious?
A sinus infection is caused by bacteria or a virus. When you get a sinus infection, it means that the bacteria or the virus has entered your sinuses and has started multiplying in there.
The infection may also spread to your ears, teeth, and bones. If you have a bacterial infection, it can spread to other people through coughing, sneezing, and touching your nose or mouth.
Viral infections, on the other hand, do not spread from person to person. There are certain things that you need to keep in mind if you have a bacterial infection.
You should make sure that you don’t touch your nose or mouth so that you don’t pass on the infection to anyone else. You should also wash your hands regularly to prevent the infection from spreading.
3 Tips to beat the Sinus Infection blues!
- Rest -Rest is the best way to deal with a sinus infection. You need to make sure you get enough sleep so that your body can heal.
- Stay hydrated – While you are resting, you should make sure you are hydrated as well.
- Get plenty of rest – Make sure you are resting at least 12 hours a day. That’s all, you can now easily know how long is a sinus infection contagious and the measures you need to take to stay safe from getting it again. Stay healthy and happy!