Sinusitus
The Surprising Connection Between Sinus Infections and Ear Infections
January 8, 2018
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4 minutes
Reviewed by Michael Kaplan, MD
It’s 2018, and the Texas weather still can’t make up its mind. The fluctuations in temperature, air pressure, and air moisture are causing sinus misery from Galveston to Conroe. As if dealing with one type of infection isn’t hard enough, sinus infections and ear infections can often occur at the same time. Read on to understand the relationship between these two pain-causing companions.
How do I know if I have a sinus infection?
Symptoms of a sinus infection often include headaches caused by the pressure and swelling of the sinuses or sinus cavities. Serious sinus pressure may mean your ears won’t pop. (If you have frequent sinus headaches, read about how to prevent sinus headaches here.) Other symptoms include pain in your ears, pain below your eyes, and sinus discharge, which will appear as a green-yellow color. Sinus discharge, which may inflame your sinuses, can result in congestion.
How can a sinus infection cause an ear infection?
Does a sinus infection cause an ear infection? Or is it the other way around? Actually, sinus and ear infections stem from the same root causes: viral infections and bacterial infections. Once an infection takes root in the sinuses, it’s easy for it to spread to the middle ear and cause an ear infection. Having these two infections at the same time means you’ve signed up for all the symptoms of a sinus infection, plus the additional symptoms of ear pain and/or clogged ears.
While these common causes can make diagnosing your ailment more difficult, they also make treating one infection akin to treating the other. Awareness of the common causes of sinus infections and ear infections, then, can make you less susceptible to getting both infections at once. Let’s examine these causes now.
What causes sinus infections?
Sinus infections are caused by allergies, air pollution, and nose structure. It’s important to take note of what triggers your sinuses. Are you more likely to get a sinus infection from mold, for example? Is dust the culprit? Or are your sinus infections brought on by less common causes, such as diabetes, autoimmune disorder, or a fungal infection?
Once you know what causes your sinus infections, reduce your risk of getting sinusitis by washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, drying your hair after showering, receiving immunization shots, making your environment more sinus friendly by cleaning your house and replacing your air filter regularly, and avoiding smoking, people who smoke, sudden temperature changes (if possible), and caffeine or alcohol.
If your sinus infections are caused by allergies, try taking antihistamines. Sinusitis caused by fungal infections can be avoided with antifungal medicine. Finally, if you have immune deficiencies, immunoglobulin can help fight the irritants that cause sinus infections. Frequent or serious sinus infections and ear infections may indicate that you have acute or chronic sinusitis. Fortunately, there are treatment options for receiving lasting relief, even from acute or chronic sinusitis.
Treatment for persistent sinus infections and ear infections
Having a sinus infection is never pleasant, especially if it leads to an ear infection. Luckily, Kaplan Sinus Relief is here to help with all of your sinus issues. Dr. Kaplan uses an innovative treatment named Balloon Sinuplasty to clear your sinus passageways by inserting and inflating a small balloon.
A minimally invasive procedure, Balloon Sinuplasty’s success rate is incredibly high. This treatment is painless, requires minimal recovery time, and requires only local anesthesia. Patients can often resume their daily activities within two days of the procedure. Balloon Sinuplasty is an effective treatment for all who suffer from the difficulty of sinus infections.
Achieve Sinus Relief Today
Because of the risks associated with ear infections, it’s important that you treat your sinusitis as soon as possible. We at Kaplan Sinus Relief are here to assist you with all your sinus problems.
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