A sinus infection, or sinusitis, typically lasts depending on its type and cause:
- Acute sinusitis usually lasts about 7 to 10 days and often improves without medical treatment. Symptoms include nasal congestion, facial pain, and fatigue. Most viral sinus infections resolve within this timeframe
- In some cases, acute sinusitis symptoms may persist up to 2 to 4 weeks, especially if bacterial infection develops or the condition is more severe
- Subacute sinusitis lasts between 4 to 8 weeks, often involving bacterial infection or complications from allergies
- Chronic sinusitis is defined by symptoms lasting 12 weeks or longer and may require more intensive treatment, sometimes including surgery
If symptoms last longer than 10 days without improvement or worsen, it may indicate bacterial sinusitis needing medical evaluation and possibly antibiotics
. In summary, most sinus infections resolve within 1 to 2 weeks, but some can last several weeks or become chronic if untreated or complicated
