Sinus infections can be very uncomfortable, restricting your ability to breathe, causing facial pain, and coughing. But can this localised infection be passed on? The answer to this question is both yes and no. This is because sinus infections are usually secondary, meaning they are the result of another underlying issue that could be viral or bacterial.
Below, we unpack these two sources and explore which infections are catchy and which are not.
A sinus infection, otherwise known as sinusitis, is caused by inflammation in the lining of the sinuses. One of the many key functions of your sinuses is to produce the mucus that protects against infection and humidifies the air before it reaches your lungs. This mucus is incredibly important, but when the lining becomes inflamed, the sinuses can produce extra mucus. This mucus is often thick, making it hard for the cilia, tiny hairs in your airways, to clear the mucus.
A sinus infection can be viral or bacterial, triggered by the same viruses that cause a cold or the flu, or by bacteria growing within an already inflamed sinus.
Researchers estimate that 90%–98% of all cases of sinusitis are viral. This means that while sinusitis itself is not contagious 90%–98% of the time, the underlying virus that caused the sinusitis is contagious. Viral sinusitis usually starts out as the flu or a cold, causing the sinuses to become inflamed. As a result, mucus builds up in the sinuses, causing the symptoms of sinusitis.
Interestingly, if someone with sinusitis passes the virus to another person, the newly infected individual may not necessarily develop sinusitis.
Viruses are not the only thing that can cause inflammation in the sinuses. Allergies, smoking, and structural defects like a deviated septum can also trigger inflammation in the sinus cavity. When this happens, mucus cannot drain, creating a good breeding ground for bacteria.
Unlike viral infections, bacterial sinusitis is not contagious, as the trigger that caused the inflammation is rarely contagious. In some cases, a bacterial infection can occur after a virus, meaning the virus may be passed on; however, the bacteria are unlikely to be passed.
Treatment for a sinus infection will depend on the kind of infection, your age, symptoms, and general health. For example, antibiotics may be used to treat a bacterial infection but are not appropriate for everyone. Decongestants are also commonly used to treat sinusitis. Although this category of medication does provide some relief from inflammation, they dry the mucus, making it harder for your body to remove it.
Secretolytics, like Sinupret, offer a different solution, thinning the mucus so that the body can expel it, resolving the root of the problem. Sinupret has the additional benefit of also being antibacterial and anti-viral, making it appropriate for use in both viral and bacterial infections. The Sinupret range offers solutions for the whole family in both acute and chronic cases, helping to resolve inflammation and pain and clear up the five most common symptoms of sinusitis.
While a sinus infection itself may not be contagious, the virus responsible for the majority of infections can be contagious. Sinupret offers an over-the-counter solution to all kinds of sinusitis, effectively reducing the five main symptoms of sinusitis, colds, and flu. Don’t let sinusitis slow you down, ask your pharmacist for the Sinupret range for fast and effective relief from sinusitis.
