Sinus Infection Symptoms (Temple Pain)

As the name suggests sinus infection is infection of sinuses, a connected system of air filled hollow behind the bones of your face. In general, it is mild and not dangerous. But sometimes it can cause sinus pain and pressure that can be very bothersome and make you feel weakened. The symptoms can vary, how about temple pain?

Sinus infection can cause headache

Many times, sinus infection occurs after a cold event. The infection can lead to inflammation of sinuses which then will obstruct the flow of mucus that normally drain out into the nose. As a result, builds up of mucus occur and you have sinusitis cycle (“infection  inflammation blockage infection”).

The buildup of mucus can worsen the blockage. The mucus that gets trapped is also a good environment for bacteria or other germs to grow – this can lead to a secondary infection.

Sinusitis and sinus infection are often used interchangeably. But actually they are different, because sinusitis refers to the inflammation of sinuses with or without infection.

The infection and inflammation of sinuses can lead to a number of discomforts. The main symptoms include:

1. Nasal discharge (runny nose). The discharge could be yellow, green, or clear.
2. If the mucus doesn’t drain properly, it can increase in thickness and you have nasal congestion (blocked nose).
3. Pain and tenderness over the affected sinus.
4. High temperature (fever), 100.4F /38C or more.
5. Cough that usually gets worse at night.
6. Other symptoms could be toothache (especially in the upper teeth /jaw), decreased sense of smell, tiredness, sore throat, and unpleasant /bad breath.

The obstruction of your sinus drainage can also lead to the build-up of extra pressure in your sinuses. As a consequence, you may have pain that feels like a headache.

Can sinus infection cause temple pain?

The extra pressure caused by your sinus inflammation can result in sinus pain /headache felt in the forehead, behind /around the eyes, or sometimes in the temple – depending on the sinuses that are affected. Interestingly, headache in people with sinus infection can also be attributed by something else (unrelated to sinus problems).

Many people think that their sinus congestion and pain are responsible for their headache. But more often than not, the answer is just a regular old headache.

How you can tell the difference? The following are facts about types of headache that have nothing to do with sinus infection:

1. Tension headache, the most common form of headache. About 80-90 % of people experience it at some point in their lives. It is usually caused by muscle tightness (such as when you hold your head in wrong position for too long), and relatively more common in women than men.
2. Migraine, a throbbing pain that typically affects one side of the head. Typically, it gets worse with activity. It is usually more severe than sinus and tension headaches, which may also be followed with other symptoms such as increased light sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting.

There are also less common types of headaches, which only affect about 1 % of the population. Although they are not common, they may link to particular conditions which some could be dangerous or even life-threatening.

The good news sinus headache is usually mild, not serious – though it can make you miserable. It will get better as your sinus inflammation and infection clear up. Fortunately, there are plenty of home remedies to help cope with sinus infection and boost your recovery!

However in a few cases, sinus infection can turn into serious. If it has caused its complications, some could be serious.

Furthermore, again headache in people with this sinus problem could be associated with something else. So it’s also important to understand when to seek immediate medical help.

See your doctor promptly if you have some of the following conditions:

… Continued …

1. Home remedies such as keeping hydrated and get adequate rest are often enough to cope with sinus infection. But if the symptoms worsen or don’t improve with home remedies after 7-10 days, see a doctor!
2. Fever is common symptom. But if you have persistent high fever, you should not ignore it!
3. If you have a personal history of chronic /recurrent sinusitis.
4. If you experience unusual symptoms such as swollen temple /forehead, redness /swelling around the eyes, confusion, vision changes (like double vision), and neck stiffness. Some of these symptoms may signal a serious infection.
5. If you have severe, unrelenting headache. It may come on abruptly or get steadily worse. In worse scenario, it may be followed with changes in mental function (personality), slurred speech, decreased alertness, numbness, or even seizures.

Mild sinus pain /headache usually improves with lifestyle measures and home remedies. But in severe cases, medical intervention is required.

The treatment is dependent on the underlying cause of your sinus inflammation and congestion. For examples, sinus infection associated with allergies is usually responsive to antihistamines.

And if it is caused by bacterial infection, antibiotics can be prescribed. But taking antibiotic right away is not recommended. Your doctor usually will ask you to wait a few days to see whether the infection improves without antibiotic. This is important to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance!

In worst scenario, sinus headache /pain due to chronic sinus infection may require surgery. Surgical treatment is the last option when other treatments fail to work. It is usually used to remove damaged sinus tissue so normal sinus drainage can be restored.