Top 5 Sinus Infection Causes

Sinus Infection CausesThere are several sinus infection causes. A sinus infection occurs when the sinuses become enlarged. This causes the mucus to basically get stuck in the sinuses and that will create bacteria which will lead to a sinus infection.

Below are the top five sinus infection causes.

1. Common cold caused by viruses in most cases. When you have a cold, if it lasts longer than four weeks, the virus can cause mucus to build up in your sinus, causing a sinus infection. You may wonder: is sinus infection contagious? The answer is no. While the virus that causes the infection is contagious, the actual infection is not.

2. Seasonal or food allergies. Many times when you have allergies, your sinus will become inflamed, trapping the mucus in your sinus cavities. This can cause bacteria to build up in the sinuses. This may lead to bacterial sinus infection and can be treated with a combination of antibiotics and antihistamine medications.

3. Tooth or mouth infections. If you have a serious tooth infection or mouth infection that is left untreated, this infection to spread to your sinuses. Usually this can be treated with antibiotics. Your doctor will most likely prescribe penicillin.

4. Ear infections. Ear infections are often caused when water gets trapped in the ear canal. This will build up bacteria causing the infection. If this is untreated, it may become severe enough and spread into the sinuses, causing sinus infections.

5. Fungi in the environment. If you are in an environment with alive fungi spores, these can cause a fungal sinus infection. This type of infection is very serious. If left without attention it may be fatal. If you do have a fungal infection, you will need a course of anti-fungal medications and even surgery in severe cases.

It’s important to know your sinus infection causes. If you can give this information to your physician, they will be able to treat your properly. For most sinus infections, antibiotics will take care of the problem. Sometimes, if the antibiotics don’t work, you may have to undergo surgery in order to remove the infection. Unless it is a fungal infection, your doctor will save surgery as a last resort.

No matter what your sinus infection causes are, there are some home remedies for sinus infection that you may want to try. The best home remedy is a sinus wash. You can either buy the sinus wash over the counter or you can make your own using baking soda and water. You can also try to gargle with salt water. You may also try antihistamines or decongestants. If none of this works, be sure to see your physician.