Stages of sinusitis

Doctors classify sinusitis by how long it lasts rather than by formal stages. This helps decide how to treat it. A typical illness moves from a viral cold to a short-term sinus infection, and in some people to a long-term problem.

Stage 1: Viral cold and early inflammation (days 1 to 5) A cold causes swelling of the nose and sinus lining, with a blocked or runny nose, sore throat, cough and mild facial pressure. Most people recover in 7 to 10 days.

Stage 2: Acute sinusitis (up to 4 weeks) Mucus remains trapped, and the face feels full or painful. Discharge becomes thick, yellow or green. Most cases are still viral, and improve with self-care.

Stage 3: Possible bacterial infection Bacterial sinusitis is suspected when symptoms last more than 10 days without improvement, or when they worsen after 5 to 7 days (a "double sickening"), or with high fever and severe facial pain for 3 to 4 days.

Stage 4: Subacute sinusitis (4 to 12 weeks) Symptoms continue longer than expected and need medical assessment.

Stage 5: Chronic sinusitis (more than 12 weeks) Persistent blockage, discharge, facial pressure and reduced smell, with ongoing inflammation. Causes include allergy, polyps and structural problems.

Recurrent acute sinusitis Four or more separate episodes per year, with symptom-free periods in between.

Complication stage (rare) Infection spreads to the eye socket, bones or brain, causing swelling, vision problems or severe headache. It needs emergency care.

Ayurvedic view (interpretive) Ayurveda sees disease moving from Kapha accumulation to blockage and then to chronic change. This is a conceptual comparison only.

Remember Most episodes stay in the first two stages. Do not take antibiotics unless a doctor advises them.