Do I have sinus infection?

1. 67

   tnvrstarposted 12 years ago

   Do I have sinus infection?
   
   In the past 1 week I am having occasional runny nose. It's really unusual for me. It just appears and then again goes back to normal. I don't have any other cold. I noticed if I press my nose it hurts a bit and then the runny nose appears immediately. What it could be? Is it because of allergy or sinus infection? What should I do?

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2. 91

   Pamela99posted 12 years ago

   Of course, I have no way to know for sure, but it sounds like some type of allergy. Fall allergies have begun, so it may be related to that. Your symptoms do not sound like an infection to me.

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3. 70

   HendrikDBposted 12 years ago

   It is difficult to say what exactly the problem is, but, the fact that your nose starts to run when you press it, can be sinus. The fact that your nose also hurts a bit when pressing it, can be thew front runner of a cold. My advice is that although blowing the nose is a natural way of clearing your nose, you should be careful; in doing so blow gently and don’t try to clear the nose by sniffing back. This can force mucous into the sinus passages and the Eustachian tubes connecting the throat and ears.

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4. 75

   Weekend Readerposted 12 years ago

   Mild sinus infections clear up by themselves. Clues that you have one include mucus that looks funny, pressure above your nose, headaches, sometimes even an earache. A lot of people have a bit more mucus in the fall, whether it's an allergy or caused by changing weather.
   
   You can try washing out your sinuses with a saline solution (remember to use boiled water to make the solution, we don't want any exotic bacteria eating your brain). Mild decongestants can help, watch out for the ones that make you drowsy. If the symptoms don't clear up in a couple weeks, a quick trip to the doctor might be in order.
   
   If you think you might be getting a cold, try taking half a Benadryl and one Tylenol before you go to bed tonight. This combination of decongestant and fever reducer seems to knock out the start of most colds. Or maybe they weren't colds, and the drugs just let me sleep better ...

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