3. Bacterial Infection
In most cases, sinusitis occurs due to a viral infection. In this case, all the patient can do is wait for the virus to run its course, and treat the symptoms as they appear. Viral sinusitis typically starts to clear after a few days, but if symptoms persist, then the patient may be dealing with a bacterial infection.
Bacterial infections differ from viral types because bacteria do not have a specified life cycle. Bacteria can set up shop in the body and survive for weeks, months, or even years in the tissues, organs, and body fluids of an infected individual.
Bacterial infections are far more severe than viral sinusitis symptoms, and while doctors may leave a viral case to resolve on its own, most bacterial infections require medical intervention with antibiotic medications to cure the patient.
Bacterial sinus infections often present more aggressive symptoms, with the infected individual developing a sinus headache as one of the advanced signs of the condition.