Common Symptoms

Symptoms of bacterial sinusitis may include:

• nasal congestion or blocked nose 
• thick yellow or green nasal discharge
• facial pain or pressure, especially around the cheeks, eyes or forehead
• headache
• reduced sense of smell
• cough, which may be worse at night
• fatigue or feeling unwell

Some people may also experience tooth pain, ear pressure or bad breath.

Possible Causes

Sinus infections can occur when swelling in the nasal passages prevents normal drainage of mucus. This may happen after a viral cold, allergies, or irritation of the nasal passages. When mucus becomes trapped in the sinuses, bacteria can multiply and cause infection. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Environmental irritants such as smoke, air pollution or structural problems in the nasal passages may also increase the risk of sinus infections.

References

Content adapted from information provided by Ontario Health – Health811:

https://health811.ontario.ca/static/guest/medical-library/condition?name=bacterial%20sinusitis