How to Get Rid of Recurring Sinus Infections

If you have ever had a sinus infection, you vividly remember the pressure and pain in your eyes and forehead. It becomes so bad you can’t focus on anything, and all you want to do is close your eyes and sleep. Forget about trying to work or do anything normal. What could be worse than that? Worse is when you finally get relief and several weeks later, it’s back! It’s a common problem to suffer from these infections multiple times a year. Let’s look at how to get rid of recurring sinus infections.

What Causes Recurring Sinus Infections?

Finding the underlying cause simple, but actually it’s not. A recurring sinus infection can be due to allergies, an inflammatory disorder, or infections. It could also be based on some combination of the above causes. 

Narrowing the causes down a bit further, they can be from nasal polyps, narrow drainage pathways, a deviated septum, or a nasal obstruction from an enlarged turbinate. 

Those that deal with conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma, autoimmune disorders, and allergies are more susceptible to recurrent sinus infections.

Many times a recurrent sinus infection can occur after a bout with the flu, a cold, or an upper respiratory infection caused by bacteria or a virus. 

If this sounds like you, contact Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat for a thorough examination in Savannah and Pooler. Don’t wait too long to get medical treatment. Overuse of over-the-counter decongestants and antihistamines can negate their effectiveness.

Common Symptoms of Recurrent Sinus Infections

A recurrent sinus infection can also be known as a recurrent acute rhinosinusitis (RARS). If you get sinus infections you are familiar with its symptoms.

They can include:

• Nasal congestion with fever
• Chronic coughing or sneezing
• Postnasal drip and sore throat
• Mucus discharge which is discolored (yellow or green)
• Red eyes
• Pain in the face, mouth, or teeth

Ways to Treat/Get Rid of Recurrent Sinus Infections

The goal of treatment is to reduce the inflammation that keeps nasal passages from draining.

At-Home Treatments

Rest will help boost the immune system and should be tried first.

Over-the-counter saline sprays, rinses, or a neti pot can help clear sinuses by thinning nasal secretions.

Allergy medications can treat any accompanying allergy symptoms.

Humidifiers will moisturize your nasal passages and prevent them from drying up.

Warm compresses will ease the discomfort of inflammation and pressure buildup.

Medical Treatments

Consult with Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat to determine which type of treatment is best for you.

• Intranasal corticosteroids
• Oral corticosteroids for short-term use or an injection
• Prescription antibiotics once determining the source of the infection
• Immunotherapy or allergy shots
• An injection of Dupixent to reduce the size of polyp

If these treatments do not get rid of recurring sinus infections, your ENT specialist may recommend surgery.

Minimally invasive surgical treatments can enlarge the nasal cavities so breathing and drainage is easier like balloon sinuplasty.

Other more invasive procedures may be necessary such as a deviated septum repair and turbinate reduction.