What is a sinus infection?

What is a sinus infection?

Richard Sheldon (Medical Advisor to the CA State Respiratory Care Board) gives expert video advice on: How can I prevent an upper respiratory infection?; What are the symptoms of a sinus infection? and more...

A sinus infection is an infection of the sinuses, and they can be very painful. They can cause a considerable amount of disability, and will be very painful. Your head, and your teeth may hurt. If it's in the maxillary sinuses, your upper teeth may hurt from that. You'll have a lot of, what they say in Spanish, "catara," a lot of discharge from the nose, and the running of high fevers. Many times, they will leave behind a continuing chronic infected state that requires some surgery to help open up the sinuses and drain them. So they can be very debilitating.