Common symptoms of sinusitis include nasal blockage, congestion, discolored nasal discharge, facial tenderness/pain, reduced sense of smell, cough, fever, toothache, and bad breath. Viral sinusitis from the common cold typically resolves in 7-10 days. Bacterial sinusitis may be suspected when symptoms are severe, last more than 10 days without improvement, or worsen after starting to improve initially.[1][2]
What are the main signs and symptoms of sinusitis?
Written by:
Fact-checked
by:
•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
The main signs and symptoms of sinusitis include nasal blockage, congestion, discolored nasal discharge, facial tenderness or pain, reduced sense of smell, cough, fever, toothache, and bad breath. Viral sinusitis usually resolves in 7 to 10 days, whereas bacterial sinusitis may be indicated by severe symptoms that last more than 10 days or worsen after initial improvement.