Sinus infection

When mucus builds up in your nose from a cold or allergies, your sinuses, openings in the bones of your face, can get filled up and infected. If you get a sinus infection, it might feel like there's a lot of pressure in your face. It may also hurt to touch your cheeks around your nose or the tops of your cheekbones. You may have yellow or green mucus in your nose that smells or tastes bad, a sore throat, a cough, a hard time breathing, and a low fever.
 

If your sinus problems are not too bad, you can take care of them at home.

• Take a decongestant pill that has pseudoephedrine in it (check the box). They will help clear out your sinuses and make it easier to breathe. You can also use a saline nasal spray.
• Breathing deeply over a pan of steaming water or sitting in a bathroom with the hot water running can help clear out your sinuses.
• You can take a painkiller and put warm washcloths over your eyes and cheeks to help the pain.
• Drink lots of hot liquids like tea or hot water with lemon but don't drink coffee. Caffeine can make your sinuses hurt more.
• Always blow your nose gently.
• Spicy foods like garlic and horseradish can help clear your sinuses.

You need to see your doctor if:

• You have thick, yellow, or greenish mucus coming out of your nose
• If your cold does not get better after a week.
• You have pain and swelling around your eye.
• You have a bad headache and taking Tylenol or Aspirin doesn't help.
• You have a fever higher than 38° C.
• You can't see very well; everything is blurry.
• You treat yourself at home, and you don't feel any better after three days.