Sinusitis symptoms commonly include nasal congestion, facial pressure, nasal discharge, postnasal drip, and reduced sense of smell. This article explains the early signs of sinusitis, the differences between acute and chronic sinusitis, common causes, how sinusitis is diagnosed, and when persistent or recurring symptoms should be evaluated by an ENT specialist at Magrabi Health.
Last Updated: 26/10/2026
Sinusitis symptoms include nasal congestion, facial pressure or pain, nasal discharge, postnasal drip, and a reduced sense of smell. They occur when inflammation affects the lining of the paranasal sinuses and nasal passages, which can interfere with normal sinus drainage.
Acute sinusitis usually lasts less than four weeks, while chronic sinusitis involves symptoms lasting more than 12 weeks. Persistent, worsening, or recurring symptoms may require evaluation by an ENT specialist to identify the underlying cause and determine the appropriate care.
Magrabi Health doctors recommend seeking medical evaluation if sinus symptoms persist, worsen, or repeatedly return.
If nasal and sinus discomfort is persistent or affecting your daily life, learn more about how sinus conditions are evaluated and managed through the Rhinology service at Magrabi Health.
Sinusitis is inflammation of the lining of the sinuses, which are air-filled spaces around the nose, cheeks, forehead, and eyes. Because sinus inflammation often affects the nasal passages at the same time, healthcare professionals may also use the term rhinosinusitis.
A sinus infection is a common term used when sinus inflammation is associated with an infection. Viral infections are a more common cause of acute sinusitis than bacterial infections.
When the sinus lining becomes swollen, mucus may not drain normally. This can cause blocked sinuses, sinus congestion, facial pressure, and nasal discharge.
Sinusitis is one of several conditions that can affect the nose, ears, and throat. You can also read about other common ENT disorders and the symptoms associated with them.
The most common sinusitis symptoms include nasal congestion, thick nasal discharge, facial pain or pressure, postnasal drip, and a reduced sense of smell. Other symptoms may include headache, cough, bad breath, ear pressure, and discomfort in the upper teeth.
Common sinus infection symptoms include:
Nasal congestion or a blocked nose
Thick or discolored nasal discharge
Facial pain, pressure, or tenderness around the cheeks, forehead, or eyes
Postnasal drip
Reduced sense of smell
Headache
Cough
Bad breath
Pressure or discomfort in the ears
Toothache or discomfort in the upper teeth
The signs and symptoms of sinusitis can vary depending on the cause, duration, and severity of the inflammation. The NHS notes that pain or tenderness around the cheeks, eyes, or forehead, a blocked or runny nose, reduced smell, and green or yellow mucus are among the common features of sinusitis.
Early signs of sinusitis include nasal congestion, increased mucus, mild facial pressure, and postnasal drip. These early sinusitis symptoms can feel similar to a common cold.
As symptoms develop, a person may notice increased sinus congestion, reduced sense of smell, thicker nasal discharge, or more noticeable pressure around the face. These sinus-related symptoms do not necessarily mean that a bacterial infection is present.
The pattern, duration, and progression of symptoms can help doctors distinguish sinusitis from other conditions with similar symptoms.
The main difference between acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis is how long the symptoms last. Acute sinusitis lasts less than four weeks, while chronic sinusitis involves symptoms lasting more than 12 weeks. Recurrent acute sinusitis causes separate episodes with symptom-free periods between them.
Type | Typical Duration | Common Features |
Acute sinusitis | Less than 4 weeks | Nasal discharge, nasal obstruction, facial pressure or fullness, often following an upper respiratory infection |
Chronic sinusitis | More than 12 weeks | Persistent nasal congestion, drainage, facial pressure, and/or reduced sense of smell |
Recurrent acute sinusitis | Repeated separate episodes | Four or more episodes of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis per year, with symptom-free periods between episodes |
According to the 2025 Clinical Practice Guideline: Adult Sinusitis Update, acute rhinosinusitis lasts less than four weeks, while chronic rhinosinusitis lasts more than 12 weeks. The guideline also distinguishes recurring episodes from continuously persistent disease.
The symptoms of Acute sinusitis often develop during or after an upper respiratory infection. Common symptoms include thick nasal discharge, nasal obstruction, facial pressure, or a combination of these symptoms.
Many acute cases are viral and improve without developing into a bacterial sinus infection.
The symptoms of Chronic sinusitis last more than 12 weeks. They commonly include persistent nasal obstruction or congestion, nasal discharge, facial pressure or fullness, and reduced sense of smell.
People with chronic rhinosinusitis may experience ongoing nasal and sinus discomfort rather than a short episode. Because several conditions can cause similar symptoms, symptoms alone are not enough to confirm chronic sinusitis.
Recurring sinus infections are separate episodes of acute sinusitis with symptom-free periods between them. This differs from chronic sinusitis, in which symptoms remain present for more than 12 weeks.
Frequent sinus problems may justify an ENT assessment to look for contributing inflammation, structural narrowing, allergies, or other factors.
The most common sinusitis causes include viral upper respiratory infections, bacterial infections in some acute cases, allergic inflammation, nasal polyps, and problems that interfere with normal sinus drainage. The cause can differ between acute, chronic, and recurring sinusitis.
Common sinusitis causes and contributing factors include:
Viral upper respiratory infections
Bacterial infections in some acute cases
Allergic inflammation
Nasal polyps
Structural problems that interfere with sinus drainage
Conditions affecting normal nasal or sinus function
Certain immune system disorders
A viral infection is a common trigger for acute sinus inflammation. When swelling blocks normal mucus movement, fluid and mucus may accumulate within the sinus spaces.
Sinus infection causes should also be distinguished from other causes of inflammation. Chronic sinus problems may involve several contributing factors rather than a single ongoing infection.
A bacterial sinus infection becomes more likely when symptoms last 10 days or longer without improvement, or when they improve at first and then become worse again. This second pattern is sometimes called “double worsening.”
Bacterial sinus infection symptoms cannot be identified reliably from mucus color alone. Persistent or worsening sinus infection symptoms should be evaluated based on the full pattern, duration, and severity of symptoms.
Antibiotics are not appropriate for every episode of sinusitis, especially when the cause is viral. A medical assessment can help determine whether a bacterial infection is likely and whether additional treatment is needed.
Not sure whether your persistent or recurring symptoms need an ENT evaluation? Contact Magrabi Health team on WhatsApp to ask about Rhinology and the appropriate next step for your symptoms.
Sinusitis is usually diagnosed based on the symptoms, how long they have lasted, and a clinical examination of the nose. The doctor may also ask whether symptoms improved and then returned, remained persistent, or occurred repeatedly.
Magrabi Health doctors explain that diagnosis depends on the pattern and duration of symptoms together with a clinical examination, rather than on one symptom alone.
For many uncomplicated cases of acute sinusitis, imaging is not routinely required.
Nasal endoscopy allows an ENT specialist to examine deeper areas of the nasal passages using a thin instrument with a camera.
It may help evaluate persistent inflammation, nasal polyps, drainage, structural abnormalities, or other possible causes of chronic or recurring symptoms.
A sinus CT scan provides detailed images of the paranasal sinuses. It may be considered when chronic rhinosinusitis needs objective confirmation, symptoms repeatedly return, or the doctor suspects complications or another diagnosis.
A sinus CT scan is not routinely required for uncomplicated acute rhinosinusitis. The 2025 adult sinusitis guideline identifies nasal endoscopy and computed tomography as methods that may help document sinonasal inflammation in chronic disease.
The main difference between sinusitis and a common cold is the duration and pattern of symptoms. Cold symptoms usually begin to improve within 10 days, while symptoms that persist without improvement for at least 10 days, or improve and then worsen, may suggest acute bacterial rhinosinusitis.
A viral upper respiratory illness often causes congestion, runny nose, cough, and temporary facial discomfort. Acute rhinosinusitis may also cause nasal drainage, nasal obstruction, facial pressure, or a combination of these symptoms.
Because the symptoms can overlap during the first several days, the time course is an important part of medical assessment.
Sinusitis can reduce the sense of smell because inflammation and mucus can block normal airflow to the areas of the nose involved in detecting odors. Swelling inside the nasal passages may also prevent odor molecules from reaching the smell receptors effectively.
A reduced sense of smell may occur because of:
Nasal passage inflammation
Swelling around the sinus openings
Thick mucus or nasal discharge
Sinus congestion that restricts airflow
Nasal polyps in some people with chronic rhinosinusitis
A reduced sense of smell is common in chronic rhinosinusitis and may also occur during acute sinus inflammation. In many cases, smell improves as the inflammation and congestion resolve.
If smell changes persist after other sinus-related symptoms improve, an ENT evaluation may help identify ongoing inflammation, blocked sinuses, nasal polyps, or another condition affecting the nasal passages.
An ENT evaluation may be appropriate when persistent sinus symptoms do not resolve as expected, repeatedly return, or suggest a chronic problem.
Consider seeing an ENT specialist if:
Symptoms continue for around 12 weeks or longer
You experience recurring sinus infections
Symptoms repeatedly return after treatment
Nasal obstruction or reduced sense of smell remains persistent
Symptoms mainly affect one side of the face or nose
The diagnosis remains unclear
Sinus problems are significantly affecting sleep or daily activities
Magrabi Health doctors recommend seeing an ENT specialist when sinus-related symptoms remain persistent, recur frequently, or begin to affect daily comfort and breathing.
If persistent or recurring sinus symptoms require specialist assessment, our guide to choosing an ENT doctor in Abu Dhabi explains what to consider before booking an appointment.
More urgent medical assessment may be needed when sinus-related symptoms are severe or rapidly worsening, or when there are signs suggesting that inflammation may have extended beyond the nose and paranasal sinuses.
Sinusitis symptoms can range from temporary nasal congestion and facial pressure to persistent problems with sinus drainage and smell. The duration and pattern of symptoms help distinguish acute sinusitis from chronic sinusitis and identify when a bacterial infection may be more likely. If symptoms persist, repeatedly return, worsen after initial improvement, or affect daily life, an ENT assessment at Magrabi Health can help clarify the cause and guide appropriate care.
Medically reviewed by Magrabi Health Specialized Doctors.
Medical Disclaimer: The information in this article is for health education purposes only and does not replace a visit to a doctor or consultation with a qualified specialist. Magrabi Health doctors recommend seeking medical evaluation for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.
Clinical Practice Guideline: Adult Sinusitis Update.
NHS — Sinusitis (sinus infection).
DHA – Clinical Guidelines for Virtual Management of Acute Rhinosinusitis
