Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSinus Infections and Ear PainHow Are They Linked?Pain ManagementTreatmentWhen to Visit a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Sinus Infections and Ear Pain
How Are They Linked?
Pain Management
Treatment
When to Visit a Provider
Sinus infections can cause various symptoms, one of which is ear pain. In some cases, ear pain during a sinus infection can develop because of a secondary ear infection. However, that’s not always the case.
There are several ways to treat ear pain from a sinus infection. Sometimes home remedies work well, and other times, you may need to see your healthcare provider for a prescription.
Dobrila Vignjevic / Getty Images
Why a Sinus Infection Causes Ear Pain
A sinus infection occurs when mucus and fluids build up in the sinuses, which are air-filled pockets in the face.
The fluid trapped within the sinuses can travel to the ear through a passageway known as theeustachiantube. The tube has many important jobs, including:
Because of its connection to the sinuses, the eustachian tube can become blocked when asinus infectionoccurs. This blockage leads to pressure and pain in the ear.In some cases, the sinusitis ear pain may last several weeks.
Earaches from acute sinus infections may last several days to several weeks because it can take up to 30 days for the sinus infection to clear. If a sinus infection continues for 30-90 days, it is considered a subacute infection. If it lasts beyond 90 days, it is considered chronic.
Ear Infection vs. Sinus InfectionAlthough the sinuses and the ears are connected, an infection can occur in one and not the other. That said, the symptoms may be similar. Some of the commonly shared symptoms include:Pain or pressure in the earPain or pressure in the neckFeverNasal congestionFacial painPain in the upper jaws and teeth
Ear Infection vs. Sinus Infection
Although the sinuses and the ears are connected, an infection can occur in one and not the other. That said, the symptoms may be similar. Some of the commonly shared symptoms include:Pain or pressure in the earPain or pressure in the neckFeverNasal congestionFacial painPain in the upper jaws and teeth
Although the sinuses and the ears are connected, an infection can occur in one and not the other. That said, the symptoms may be similar. Some of the commonly shared symptoms include:
Distinct symptoms of sinus infections and ear infections include:
Sinus InfectionRunny and stuffy noseHeadachePostnasal dripCoughBad breathEar InfectionHearing lossPus-like discharge from the earThroat painItchiness in the earRedness and swelling in the ear
Sinus InfectionRunny and stuffy noseHeadachePostnasal dripCoughBad breath
Runny and stuffy nose
Headache
Postnasal drip
Cough
Bad breath
Ear InfectionHearing lossPus-like discharge from the earThroat painItchiness in the earRedness and swelling in the ear
Hearing loss
Pus-like discharge from the ear
Throat pain
Itchiness in the ear
Redness and swelling in the ear
It is possible to have both a sinus infection and ear infection at the same time.
Link Between Sinus and Ear Infections
Because the sinuses and ears are physically close, infections in either area can spread easily. If a person develops anear infection, it can spread to the sinuses and vice versa. The pathogen, whether bacterial or viral, can go through the eustachian tube toward either the ears or the sinuses, depending on where it started, causing infection elsewhere.
In many cases, a sinus infection can be treated at home while the body fights off the pathogen. To get rid of ear pain and other symptoms from a sinus infection, you can:
Home care involves treating the symptoms at home while the infection clears up. Typically, healthcare providers will avoid prescribing antibiotics until the symptoms persist for a week or more.
Antibiotics and Sinus Infections
If you’re experiencing what you think is a sinus infection with ear pain and have the following symptoms, consider contacting your healthcare provider:
Summary
Having a sinus infection with ear pain is unpleasant. However, most infections are mild and clear on their own. Home care may help to relieve symptoms, including ear pain.
If your sinus infection lasts longer than 10 days or worsens while you wait for it to clear up, contact a healthcare provider. You may need antibiotics to eliminate the infection and its accompanying symptoms, such as ear pain.
7 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eustachian tube dysfunction.FamilyDoctor.org.Eustachian tube dysfunction.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Sinusitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection (sinusitis).UK National Health Service.Earache.Smith SR, Montgomery LG, Williams JW Jr.Treatment of mild to moderate sinusitis.Arch Intern Med.2012 Mar 26;172(6):510-3. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.253
7 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eustachian tube dysfunction.FamilyDoctor.org.Eustachian tube dysfunction.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Sinusitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection (sinusitis).UK National Health Service.Earache.Smith SR, Montgomery LG, Williams JW Jr.Treatment of mild to moderate sinusitis.Arch Intern Med.2012 Mar 26;172(6):510-3. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.253
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.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eustachian tube dysfunction.FamilyDoctor.org.Eustachian tube dysfunction.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Sinusitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection (sinusitis).UK National Health Service.Earache.Smith SR, Montgomery LG, Williams JW Jr.Treatment of mild to moderate sinusitis.Arch Intern Med.2012 Mar 26;172(6):510-3. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.253
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eustachian tube dysfunction.
FamilyDoctor.org.Eustachian tube dysfunction.
Merck Manual Consumer Version.Sinusitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection (sinusitis).
UK National Health Service.Earache.
Smith SR, Montgomery LG, Williams JW Jr.Treatment of mild to moderate sinusitis.Arch Intern Med.2012 Mar 26;172(6):510-3. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.253
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
