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Are Sinus Infections Contagious Through Kissing?
Key Points
– Sinus infections are not contagious and hence these are not communicable conditions. However, a bacterial or a viral infection that causes sinus infections turn contagious.
– Sinus is a thin layer of mucus that traps germs, dust, and other minute particles found in the air. Sinus infection is an inflammation of tissues lining your sinuses
– Kissing someone who has bacterial or viral infections will potentially lead to cold or other infections, but not sinus infections. An underlying condition – like a virus or bacterial infection – can spread through kissing
– If you have a viral or a bacterial infection and you cough or sneeze, you release pathogens in the air. It can infect persons near you as they inhale it
– Kissing can easily spread bacteria and viruses. As pathogens transfer through saliva, when you kiss your partner, if one of you has viral or bacterial infection(s), these pathogens can spread through kissing
– Sinus infection i.e., inflammation of sinuses actually does not spread from one person to another unless accompanied by an infection
How Long Does Sinus Infection Last?
Sinus infection is an inflammation of sinus cavities. Sinus infection can be acute, subacute, or chronic. However, these infections are not contagious.
It takes anywhere between 1 and 2 weeks (7-10 days) for acute sinus infections (sinusitis) to be present in your system before it completely clears up on its own. However, in certain cases – it can last longer, maybe, even up to 4 weeks’ time without the requirement of clinical treatment.
You can manage the symptoms with a few home remedies and / or a few over the counter (OTC) medications. The symptoms of acute sinus are quite similar to allergic rhinitis. You need to know allergic rhinitis is a condition that causes swelling of your nasal passage.
If you have subacute sinus infections, these conditions are likely to last for a period of four to eight weeks’ time; even with treatment / medication plans. However, this might turn into chronic sinusitis if it lasts for more than 8 weeks (approx. 2 months) – at times, even upon being treated.
A chronic spell of sinusitis may need a more extensive treatment if it affects you in a regular manner. You may need to consult with your caregiving team if symptoms do not improve or tend to worsen after a week or 10 days’ time.
If you experience severe facial pain, a splitting headache and if increase in body temperature does not turn normal within 3 to 4 days. Your caregiving team will also address other underlying causes; these discomforts may arise out of onset of nasal polyps, allergies, or other issues in your sinus cavities.
Your immunity level plays a major part in combating sinus infections. If you have a high immunity level, your body turns more resistant to these infections, and prevents it from entering deep inside the system.
Aged people – especially elders above 60 years or more, and people with relatively low levels of immunity / compromised immune system are more susceptible to risks of sinus infections than others. Moreover, once affected, it may even take a longer time for sinus infections to leave your system due to your age and / or compromised immunity levels.
Sinus Infection or Cold?
You may find it hard to differentiate between a common cold and a sinus infection. Both these conditions share almost the same type of symptoms. However, sinus infections might cause more trouble. It dwells in your system for a longer duration. They last longer than your common cold, and can show up along with a few symptoms such as facial pressures, painful facial organs, and discolored or thick discharge from your nasal passage(s).
Common cold or flu – as it is commonly referred to, is a viral infection. Symptoms include sneezing, coughing persistently, milder spells of body ache, soreness of throat, blocked nasal airways or a runny nose, and maybe a low-grade fever. You may also tend to witness a clear or slightly-colored nasal discharge. These symptoms may typically last for a week or so. Your symptoms may hit a peak within the first few days, and may then gradually reduce.
You can find relief from virus-induced sinusitis in three to five days’ time. However, for a bacterial sinus infection, the symptoms tend to last for a longer time i.e. 10 days without showing signs of any alleviation. This is one of the ways you easily identify the difference between common cold (viral sinusitis) and bacterial sinus infection.
Allergies can also result in sinus infections. Similar to a cold, you experience bad breath, green or yellow colored nasal discharge(s), phlegm and postnasal drip. Headache and pressure on your facial organs are also quite common to occur.
Sinus infections last longer than a cold; at times, even for months. It can even become chronic. Often your nasal discharge turns very thick. A sinus infection may cause swelling around your eyes, cheeks, or forehead, fatigue, fever and coughing spells.
However, ignoring these symptoms is not a good thing to do. Beware: these may lead to other serious health complications. It is a wise thing to attend to symptoms immediately, and take care under the guidance of a certified allergist.
Your allergist (or rhinologist) will examine you thoroughly to find the underlying cause of sinus infections. By understanding the cause and type(s) of infection, your allergist may prescribe a few meds. There are also home-based remedies to treat these conditions.
However, if your condition is severe, your doctor may order a few tests to know whether sinus infections are the sole cause behind your symptoms; the panel of tests is likely to show other causes – if any. Based on test results, your healthcare expert is equipped to provides the right treatment for a needful remedy. Your treating physician may also ensure the drug(s) prescribed are efficient to treat your condition and has lesser adverse / side effects.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Global Discount Drugs follows sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies and information from top institutions.
URLs Referred to –
- https://www.christushealth.org/connect/your-health/infectious-diseases/is-a-sinus-infection-contagious
- https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/colds-allergies-sinusitis
- https://www.loyolamedicine.org/newsroom/blog-articles/sinus-infection-vs-cold
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12342-common-cold
Mike is a licensed pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in community pharmacy management. He is dedicated to helping people understand their medications and improve their overall health. Mike enjoys reading medical journals and sharing practical health tips. Connect with him on LinkedIn for the latest in pharmacy practices."
Key Points
– Sinus infections are not contagious and hence these are not communicable conditions. However, a bacterial or a viral infection that causes sinus infections turn contagious.
– Sinus is a thin layer of mucus that traps germs, dust, and other minute particles found in the air. Sinus infection is an inflammation of tissues lining your sinuses
– Kissing someone who has bacterial or viral infections will potentially lead to cold or other infections, but not sinus infections. An underlying condition – like a virus or bacterial infection – can spread through kissing
– If you have a viral or a bacterial infection and you cough or sneeze, you release pathogens in the air. It can infect persons near you as they inhale it
– Kissing can easily spread bacteria and viruses. As pathogens transfer through saliva, when you kiss your partner, if one of you has viral or bacterial infection(s), these pathogens can spread through kissing
– Sinus infection i.e., inflammation of sinuses actually does not spread from one person to another unless accompanied by an infection
How Long Does Sinus Infection Last?
Sinus infection is an inflammation of sinus cavities. Sinus infection can be acute, subacute, or chronic. However, these infections are not contagious.
It takes anywhere between 1 and 2 weeks (7-10 days) for acute sinus infections (sinusitis) to be present in your system before it completely clears up on its own. However, in certain cases – it can last longer, maybe, even up to 4 weeks’ time without the requirement of clinical treatment.
You can manage the symptoms with a few home remedies and / or a few over the counter (OTC) medications. The symptoms of acute sinus are quite similar to allergic rhinitis. You need to know allergic rhinitis is a condition that causes swelling of your nasal passage.
If you have subacute sinus infections, these conditions are likely to last for a period of four to eight weeks’ time; even with treatment / medication plans. However, this might turn into chronic sinusitis if it lasts for more than 8 weeks (approx. 2 months) – at times, even upon being treated.
A chronic spell of sinusitis may need a more extensive treatment if it affects you in a regular manner. You may need to consult with your caregiving team if symptoms do not improve or tend to worsen after a week or 10 days’ time.
If you experience severe facial pain, a splitting headache and if increase in body temperature does not turn normal within 3 to 4 days. Your caregiving team will also address other underlying causes; these discomforts may arise out of onset of nasal polyps, allergies, or other issues in your sinus cavities.
Your immunity level plays a major part in combating sinus infections. If you have a high immunity level, your body turns more resistant to these infections, and prevents it from entering deep inside the system.
Aged people – especially elders above 60 years or more, and people with relatively low levels of immunity / compromised immune system are more susceptible to risks of sinus infections than others. Moreover, once affected, it may even take a longer time for sinus infections to leave your system due to your age and / or compromised immunity levels.
Sinus Infection or Cold?
You may find it hard to differentiate between a common cold and a sinus infection. Both these conditions share almost the same type of symptoms. However, sinus infections might cause more trouble. It dwells in your system for a longer duration. They last longer than your common cold, and can show up along with a few symptoms such as facial pressures, painful facial organs, and discolored or thick discharge from your nasal passage(s).
Common cold or flu – as it is commonly referred to, is a viral infection. Symptoms include sneezing, coughing persistently, milder spells of body ache, soreness of throat, blocked nasal airways or a runny nose, and maybe a low-grade fever. You may also tend to witness a clear or slightly-colored nasal discharge. These symptoms may typically last for a week or so. Your symptoms may hit a peak within the first few days, and may then gradually reduce.
You can find relief from virus-induced sinusitis in three to five days’ time. However, for a bacterial sinus infection, the symptoms tend to last for a longer time i.e. 10 days without showing signs of any alleviation. This is one of the ways you easily identify the difference between common cold (viral sinusitis) and bacterial sinus infection.
Allergies can also result in sinus infections. Similar to a cold, you experience bad breath, green or yellow colored nasal discharge(s), phlegm and postnasal drip. Headache and pressure on your facial organs are also quite common to occur.
Sinus infections last longer than a cold; at times, even for months. It can even become chronic. Often your nasal discharge turns very thick. A sinus infection may cause swelling around your eyes, cheeks, or forehead, fatigue, fever and coughing spells.
However, ignoring these symptoms is not a good thing to do. Beware: these may lead to other serious health complications. It is a wise thing to attend to symptoms immediately, and take care under the guidance of a certified allergist.
Your allergist (or rhinologist) will examine you thoroughly to find the underlying cause of sinus infections. By understanding the cause and type(s) of infection, your allergist may prescribe a few meds. There are also home-based remedies to treat these conditions.
However, if your condition is severe, your doctor may order a few tests to know whether sinus infections are the sole cause behind your symptoms; the panel of tests is likely to show other causes – if any. Based on test results, your healthcare expert is equipped to provides the right treatment for a needful remedy. Your treating physician may also ensure the drug(s) prescribed are efficient to treat your condition and has lesser adverse / side effects.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Global Discount Drugs follows sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies and information from top institutions.
URLs Referred to –
- https://www.christushealth.org/connect/your-health/infectious-diseases/is-a-sinus-infection-contagious
- https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/colds-allergies-sinusitis
- https://www.loyolamedicine.org/newsroom/blog-articles/sinus-infection-vs-cold
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12342-common-cold
Mike is a licensed pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in community pharmacy management. He is dedicated to helping people understand their medications and improve their overall health. Mike enjoys reading medical journals and sharing practical health tips. Connect with him on LinkedIn for the latest in pharmacy practices."
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