One of the biggest challenges you’ll face when you suddenly find yourself sick with symptoms like a stuffy nose, cough, body pains, fever, and fatigue is determining the cause of your illness. Are you experiencing symptoms because of a common cold? Is it something more serious, like sinusitis? Or should you be worried about having COVID or the flu?
This article deals with the similarities and differences between two common illnesses in Singapore: the common cold and sinusitis. Being able to tell these two apart can make all the difference when ensuring the speed and consistency of your recovery. Here’s how you can distinguish the two from each other, when to consider other illnesses like COVID-19, and when you should seek medical attention from a pulmonologist or ENT specialist Singapore patients trust.
5 Key Differences between Sinusitis and an Upper Respiratory Infection
Admittedly, it’s often difficult to tell a cold from sinusitis because the two conditions share several symptoms. Someone who’s sick with either a cold or sinusitis may cough, need to blow their nose often, and experience pain and fatigue in different parts of their body. But these are the five key differences that you should watch for if you suspect that you’re suffering from either ailment:
The Cause of the Illness
The common cold, also called an upper respiratory infection, is viral in nature. Up to 40 per cent of all colds can be traced to a family of viruses that are called rhinoviruses. But sinusitis, which involves the inflammation of a person’s nasal passages, can either be viral or bacterial in its origins.
This is an important difference as far as a patient’s treatment is concerned. For example, it determines whether the patient should be prescribed antibiotics or not. It should be noted that antibiotics can’t kill viruses because they don’t have the cell walls that antibiotics are meant to destroy. As such, while antibiotics may work for a case of bacterial sinusitis, they won’t be effective in treating viral upper respiratory infections.
That said, it must be remembered that colds and sinusitis can sometimes go hand in hand. A cold may evolve into a bacterial sinus infection if the person keeps touching their nose with dirty hands, thus introducing new bacteria into their sinuses. Since the sinuses can’t drain properly, there’s a chance that the bacteria will fester and make the person’s condition even worse.
The Duration of the Symptoms
Another reliable differentiator between sinusitis and the common cold is how long the symptoms last. A common cold typically resolves itself in less than 10 days, with the symptoms peaking in severity for only about 3 to 5 of those days. Sinusitis, on the other hand, can take much longer than that to heal. Sometimes it takes weeks for the symptoms to fully subside.
In some cases of sinusitis, it’s also not unprecedented for cold-like symptoms to get better for a few days and then suddenly come back in full force. If this is what’s happening to you, you should seek treatment from a specialist who will guide you towards a swift recovery.
The Colour and Consistency of the Discharge
A couple of other differences that can distinguish a cold from sinusitis are the colour and consistency of the person’s nasal discharge. Colds are often characterised by clear and watery discharge, and the discharge can become green or yellow at the peak of the illness. Conversely, sinusitis is usually accompanied by a thick yellow discharge that’s hard to get rid of.
Where the Body Pains Are Concentrated
Body pains are common for those who are sick with either a cold or sinusitis, but there may be a clue as to which condition it is based on where the pain is concentrated. A cold can cause the whole body to ache, while sinusitis can induce particularly bad headaches and pain in the eyes, cheeks, and the back of the neck.
The Presence of Bad Breath
Bad breath is a unique symptom of sinusitis and is usually not present when a patient only has a common cold. The distinctive bad breath that comes from sinusitis is caused by the sinuses draining foul-smelling mucus into the back of the throat. If your breath has begun exuding a foul odour, you may be suffering from a case of sinusitis.
Notes on Getting Treatment for Your Condition
Whether you have sinusitis or a cold, it’s essential for you to get the right treatment for your condition. Treatments for the common cold include over-the-counter medications, decongestant pills, and corticosteroid nasal sprays that can mitigate the symptoms. For sinus problems that can be attributed to a bacterial infection, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. A patient must follow instructions for taking antibiotics to the letter, as doing the opposite may cause the bacteria to be resistant to the medicine and prolong their sinusitis.
If your symptoms for either condition have worsened or persisted for an alarming amount of time, make an appointment with your primary care or urgent care doctor. Get their opinion about whether you should be referred to an otolaryngologist or a pulmonologist. In addition, if you’re experiencing additional symptoms that aren’t mentioned above—such as a very high fever or the loss of your sense of smell or taste—get tested to rule out a disease like COVID-19 or dengue.
Lastly, on top of seeking appropriate treatment for either a cold or sinusitis, remember to drink lots of water, eat healthy and comforting food like clear broth, and get plenty of rest. Doing these will bolster your recovery and hopefully ward off either illness in the days to come.