Can You Get a Fever With a Sinus Infection?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFeverSymptomsReducing FeverWhen to Get Care

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Fever

Symptoms

Reducing Fever

When to Get Care

Asinus infectioncan, but does not always, cause a fever along with other symptoms.Feversare more likely with bacterial sinus infections than with viral ones.

This article will discuss how high a fever can be with a sinus infection, what else could be causing a fever, how to break a sinus infection fever, and what to do if the fever won’t go down.

Sinus Infection

How High Is a Sinus Infection Fever?

A fever is a body temperature that is greater than 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C).How high the fever goescan vary. While rare, a bacterial sinus infection in children can cause a sudden, high fever.

Is Fever a Sign of a Sinus Infection, or Something Else?

Fever can be a symptom ofnearly any infection, including:

To determine if it isa sinus infection, it’s important to look at symptoms in addition to fever. In adults, symptoms of an acute (lasting less than four weeks) sinus infection often come after a cold that does not improve (or gets worse) after seven to 10 days.

Symptoms of an acute sinus infection in adults may include:

Sinus Infections in Children

Symptoms of a sinus infection in children may include:

Viral vs. Bacterial Infection

The type of sinus infection also matters.Viral and bacterial sinus infectionscan have similar symptoms, but bacterial sinus infections are more likely to cause:

It is important to note that symptoms that indicate a possible infection, such as symptoms getting better then worse, do not necessarily mean you have a sinus infection. This can also mean the presence of another infection, such as anear infectionor pneumonia. If you think you have any type of infection, see your healthcare provider.

How to Break a Sinus Infection Fever

If the fever is mild and not causing problems, you don’t necessarily need to break it. Drinking fluids and resting may be all the fever treatment you need.

Lowering a fever may be helpful if you or your child is uncomfortable, not sleeping well, vomiting, and/or dehydrated.

Medication is typically the most effective way to reduce a fever. Important things to note when taking fever-reducing medication, orgiving it to a child, include:

Other ways to helpmanage a feverinclude:

Medication-Free Ways to Treat Sinus Infection SymptomsSome ways to helpmanage symptoms of a sinus infectionwithout taking medication include:Use nasal rinses, such as aNeti Pot, or a saline squeeze bottle, to help clear out thickened secretions from your nasal passages.Drink lots of fluids to helpthin out mucus.Apply a warm, moist washcloth on your face several times per day.Use a humidifier.Use saline nasal spray several times per day.Inhale steam two to four times daily (try sitting in the room with a hot shower running).

Medication-Free Ways to Treat Sinus Infection Symptoms

Some ways to helpmanage symptoms of a sinus infectionwithout taking medication include:Use nasal rinses, such as aNeti Pot, or a saline squeeze bottle, to help clear out thickened secretions from your nasal passages.Drink lots of fluids to helpthin out mucus.Apply a warm, moist washcloth on your face several times per day.Use a humidifier.Use saline nasal spray several times per day.Inhale steam two to four times daily (try sitting in the room with a hot shower running).

Some ways to helpmanage symptoms of a sinus infectionwithout taking medication include:

Sinus Infection Fever Not Going Down

If thefever isn’t going down, or there areother factors present, medical care may be needed.

Call 911 if the child or adult:

Seek immediate medical attention if there is:

See a healthcare provider within 24 hours if:

Contact the healthcare provider during office hours if there is:

Are Antibiotics Given for a Sinus Infection?Antibiotics are only used for bacterial infections and are not effective against viral orfungal infections.If you have a bacterial sinus infection, you may or may not be prescribed antibiotics. Your healthcare provider may suggest that you wait to see if the infection clears on its own and may only prescribe antibiotics if the symptoms persist past seven to 10 days.Antibiotics may be prescribedsooner with certain circumstances, such as:Fever higher than 102.2 degrees F (39 degrees C)A child who has nasal discharge (possibly with a cough) that does not improve after two to three weeksSevere swelling around the eyesHeadacheor face pain

Are Antibiotics Given for a Sinus Infection?

Antibiotics are only used for bacterial infections and are not effective against viral orfungal infections.If you have a bacterial sinus infection, you may or may not be prescribed antibiotics. Your healthcare provider may suggest that you wait to see if the infection clears on its own and may only prescribe antibiotics if the symptoms persist past seven to 10 days.Antibiotics may be prescribedsooner with certain circumstances, such as:Fever higher than 102.2 degrees F (39 degrees C)A child who has nasal discharge (possibly with a cough) that does not improve after two to three weeksSevere swelling around the eyesHeadacheor face pain

Antibiotics are only used for bacterial infections and are not effective against viral orfungal infections.

If you have a bacterial sinus infection, you may or may not be prescribed antibiotics. Your healthcare provider may suggest that you wait to see if the infection clears on its own and may only prescribe antibiotics if the symptoms persist past seven to 10 days.

Antibiotics may be prescribedsooner with certain circumstances, such as:

Summary

A fever can accompany almost any infection, includinga sinus infection. Additional symptoms of a sinus infection include nasal congestion and discharge, pressure and/or pain in the face, headache, cough, and bad breath.

A bacterial sinus infection is more likely than a viral one to cause symptoms such as fever, symptoms that last longer than 10 days, and symptoms that start to get better but then suddenly get worse.

Over-the-counter fever reducers are an effective way to reduce your temperature. Other ways to manage fever include wearing light layers, taking lukewarm baths or sponge baths, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking all of your antibiotics as directed if you are prescribed them.

Call 911 or seek emergency medical care if serious symptoms occur with yoursinus infection, such as fever with a stiff neck, a persistent or very high fever, trouble breathing, vision problems, confusion or trouble thinking, redness or swelling around one or both eyes, or anything else that requires urgent care.

9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedars-Sinai.Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis.UpToDate. Patient education:Acute sinusitis (sinus infection) (beyond the basics).Nemours KidsHealth.Sinusitis (sinus infection).Mount Sinai.Fever.University of Pennsylvania.Sinus infections (sinusitis).American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Sinus infection.AboutKidsHealth.Sinus infections.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Sinus pain or congestion.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sinusitis.

9 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedars-Sinai.Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis.UpToDate. Patient education:Acute sinusitis (sinus infection) (beyond the basics).Nemours KidsHealth.Sinusitis (sinus infection).Mount Sinai.Fever.University of Pennsylvania.Sinus infections (sinusitis).American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Sinus infection.AboutKidsHealth.Sinus infections.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Sinus pain or congestion.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sinusitis.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Cedars-Sinai.Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis.UpToDate. Patient education:Acute sinusitis (sinus infection) (beyond the basics).Nemours KidsHealth.Sinusitis (sinus infection).Mount Sinai.Fever.University of Pennsylvania.Sinus infections (sinusitis).American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Sinus infection.AboutKidsHealth.Sinus infections.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Sinus pain or congestion.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sinusitis.

Cedars-Sinai.Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis.

UpToDate. Patient education:Acute sinusitis (sinus infection) (beyond the basics).

Nemours KidsHealth.Sinusitis (sinus infection).

Mount Sinai.Fever.

University of Pennsylvania.Sinus infections (sinusitis).

American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Sinus infection.

AboutKidsHealth.Sinus infections.

Seattle Children’s Hospital.Sinus pain or congestion.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sinusitis.

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