Overview
Sinusitis is inflammation of the air spaces around the nose, causing facial pressure, a blocked nose and thick discharge — often after a cold or during heavy harmattan dust. Most episodes are viral and clear within two to three weeks without antibiotics.
Symptoms
- Facial pain or pressure, worse bending forward
- Blocked nose
- Thick yellow or green nasal discharge
- Reduced sense of smell
- Post-nasal drip and cough, worse at night
- Headache around the eyes or forehead
- Fever in bacterial cases
Causes & risk factors
- Viral colds spreading to the sinuses
- Allergies and harmattan dust irritation
- Nasal polyps or a deviated septum blocking drainage
- Bacterial infection following a viral cold
Treatment & self-care
Steam inhalation, saline nasal rinses, plenty of fluids and simple pain relief settle most episodes; decongestant sprays should not be used beyond a few days. Doctors reserve antibiotics for clearly bacterial cases — high fever, severe pain or symptoms worsening after initial improvement. Recurrent sinusitis deserves ENT assessment for an underlying cause.
See a doctor urgently if
- Swelling or redness around the eye — emergency
- Severe headache with stiff neck or confusion
- Symptoms beyond ten days or worsening after improving
- Recurring episodes several times a year