Sinus Infection Symptoms

With nasal congestion, it can be tough to tell whether it's a sinus infection or a simple cold. Here are the sinus infection symptoms to watch out for.

Facial Pain and Pressure
Usually, pain is the first symptom that can indicate your nasal troubles are an infection. If you lean forward or move your head around quickly - such as when you go for a run, for instance - the pain and pressure can increase.

The area of the pain can also tell you where the infection occurs. You might feel it in the cheeks and upper teeth, the forehead, above the eyebrows, on top of the head, in the temples, behind the eyes or around the eyes. Tooth pain is one major indicator that often gets overlooked as a sinus infection symptom.

Headaches
Besides localized pain and pressure, you may have an all around general headache.

Discolored Discharge
If you cough up or blow your nose to find yellow or greenish discharge, consider that this could be a sign of a sinus infection.

Bad Breath
Because infected mucus is in the back of your throat, you may have bad breath.

Nasal Issues
A stuffy or runny nose can indicate a sinus infection.

Fever
If you're experiencing chills and have a temperature above normal, this probably isn't just a cold.

Poor Taste and Smell
Sinus infections often affect and reduce your sense of smell and taste.

Viral Infection
Actually a sinus infection trigger, viral infections in the upper respiratory tract can cause acute sinusitis.