The four pairs of sinuses are located behind the eyebrows, inside the cheekbones, behind the bridge of the nose and behind the eyes. When sinuses become infected or inflamed, it is referred to as a sinus infection or sinusitis. One bout of sinusitis can last from four weeks to more than 12 weeks. Sinus infections can recur several times a year.
Antibiotics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most sinus infections are caused by viruses, although they may be caused by bacteria, allergies, pollutants or fungal infections. Antibiotics are useful only if sinusitis is caused by bacteria. Most sinus infections improve on their own.
Other Medications
Antihistamines and decongestants in spray or pill form can help relieve symptoms and nasal corticosteroids can reduce severe inflammation. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports some sinus infection sufferers find relief for sinus headaches with triptans, a migraine medication.
Considerations
To help reduce sinus congestion, sinus infection sufferers can use a humidifier, a saline nasal spray or saline nasal washes. In severe cases of chronic sinusitis, surgery is sometimes done to remove polyps or bone spurs, or to enlarge the sinus opening.
