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Complications of Bacterial Infection in the Sinuses


In rare cases bacterial sinusitis can be very serious.

Adolescent males with acute frontal sinusitis are at particular risk for severe problems. One important complication is infection of the bones or Osteomyelitis of the forehead. The patient usually experiences headache, fever, and a soft swelling over the bone known as Pott's puffy tumor.

Infection of the Eye Socket

The patient loses movement in the eye, and pressure on the optic nerve can lead to vision loss, which could sometimes be permanent. Fever and severe illness are usually present.

Blood Clot
Resulting from ethmoid or frontal sinusitis, a blood clot forms in the sinus area around the front and top of the face. The symptoms are similar to orbital infection.

The pupil may be fixed and dilated. Though the symptoms usually begin on one side of the head, the process usually spreads to both sides.

Ischemic Stroke
A study has found a link between ischemic stroke and sinusitis.

Widespread Infection
The spread of infection by anaerobic bacteria to the brain, either through the bones or blood vessels. It is a dangerous complication of sinusitis, particularly frontal and sphenoid sinusitis.


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