Sinusitis (No Antibiotics)

Home care

• Drink plenty of water, hot tea, and other liquids, as directed by your doctor. This may help thin nasal mucus. It also may help your sinuses drain fluids.

• Heat may help soothe painful parts of your face. Use a towel soaked in hot water. Or stand in the shower and direct the warm spray on your face. Using a vaporizer along with a menthol rub at night may also help soothe symptoms.

• Try a steroid nasal spray. It may help with your symptoms.

• Try a decongestant nasal spray, such as oxymetazoline or phenylephrine. Don't use it for more than 3 days in a row. Using it for more than 3 days can make your congestion worse.

• If advised by your doctor, over-the-counter antihistamines may help if allergies are the cause of your sinusitis.

• If needed, take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Read and follow all instructions on the label.

• Use nasal rinses or irrigation with saltwater, as directed by your doctor.

• Don't smoke. This can make symptoms worse.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your doctor if you are not better in 1 week.

When to get medical care

Contact your doctor if you have:

• Green or yellow fluid draining from your nose or into your throat.

• Facial pain or a headache that gets worse.

• A stiff neck.

• Swelling of your forehead or eyelids.

• Vision problems, such as blurred or double vision.

• A fever of  100.4ºF ( 38ºC) or higher, or as advised by your doctor.

• Symptoms that don't go away in 10 days or get worse after starting to get better.

Call 911

Call 911 if:

• You have a seizure.

• You have trouble breathing.

• You have confusion or abnormal drowsiness.

• You feel dizzy or faint.

• Your fingernails, skin, or lips look blue, purple, or gray.