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How to Get Rid of a Nose Infection

Nose infection occurs when your sinuses are inflamed from a fungal, bacterial or viral infection. This can be caused by temperature or air pressure changes, allergies, or nasal polyps. Symptoms include cough, fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, congestion, nasal discharge, inability to smell, and bad breath. You may also feel pain or pressure in your cheeks, forehead, nose, and between your eyes. Nose infection is more likely if you have allergies, cystic fibrosis, large adenoids, have a weakened immune system, and are in higher altitudes. Also called sinusitis, nose infection can be acute, lasting 2 to 8 weeks, or chronic, lasting more than 8 weeks. Acute nose infection should be treated for 10 to 14 days and chronic nose infection should be treated for 3 to 4 weeks.

Things You'll Need

  • Humidifier
  • Nasal saline spray
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Instructions

  1. Instructions

    • 1

      See a doctor. Your physician will examine your nose for polyps and check for inflammation and infection. A CT scan may be needed to diagnose nose infection. Your doctor may choose to diagnose nose infection with an MRI, allergy tests, blood tests and other diagnostic tools.

    • 2

      Try self-care. Drink more liquids to thin out mucus, use a humidifier, and several times a day inhale steam, use nasal saline spray, and put a warm, moist cloth on your face and breathe in the steam from it to relieve sinus pressure and open sinuses. Get more rest by lying on your side to improve breathing or propping up on a pillow. Lying flat can make you feel more congested. Also avoid alcohol because it can make swelling in the sinuses worse.

    • 3

      Use medicine. Try acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain and inflammation, but talk to your doctor first since some medicines may make your condition worse. Your doctor may prescribe pain medicine, antibiotics or allergy shots.

    • 4

      Seek more treatment. Your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) physician or allergy specialist for further testing or treatment.

    • 5

      Consider surgery. When other treatments don't work and nose infection remains or returns, your doctor may recommend surgery. An ENT will perform surgery to clean and drain sinuses. Most fungal infections will require surgery. Treating a deviated septum or nasal polyps with surgery may keep nose infection from returning.

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