A stuffed and runny nose and feeling miserable; are these the symptoms of a cold? Or could it be a sinus infection?

A stuffed and runny nose and feeling miserable; are these the symptoms of a cold? Or could it be a sinus infection?

The symptoms often overlap, so it can be hard to tell the difference. The conditions' names only add to the confusion.

• Rhinitis is the term for a cold.
• Sinusitis is the word for a sinus infection

A cold is a viral respiratory infection. More than 100 different viruses cause colds. Colds spread when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes droplets containing the virus into the air. Another way to spread the virus is by sneezing on or touching a surface like a counter or sink and leaving the virus behind.

Colds can lead to sinus infections when the sinuses - the air-filled spaces behind the nose - swell up. Air, mucus, and bacteria can get trapped in the swollen sinuses and cause an infection.

The main difference between a cold and a sinus infection is how long the symptoms last. Most people get over a cold in 5-10 days. Sinusitis can stick around for 4 weeks. In some people, sinus inflammation lasts for more than 3 months - this is called chronic sinusitis.

A stuffed and runny nose and feeling miserable; are these the symptoms of a cold? Or could it be a sinus infection?

The symptoms often overlap, so it can be hard to tell the difference. The conditions' names only add to the confusion.

• Rhinitis is the term for a cold.
• Sinusitis is the word for a sinus infection

A cold is a viral respiratory infection. More than 100 different viruses cause colds. Colds spread when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes droplets containing the virus into the air. Another way to spread the virus is by sneezing on or touching a surface like a counter or sink and leaving the virus behind.

Colds can lead to sinus infections when the sinuses - the air-filled spaces behind the nose - swell up. Air, mucus, and bacteria can get trapped in the swollen sinuses and cause an infection.

The main difference between a cold and a sinus infection is how long the symptoms last. Most people get over a cold in 5-10 days. Sinusitis can stick around for 4 weeks. In some people, sinus inflammation lasts for more than 3 months - this is called chronic sinusitis.

A stuffed and runny nose and feeling miserable; are these the symptoms of a cold? Or could it be a sinus infection?

The symptoms often overlap, so it can be hard to tell the difference. The conditions' names only add to the confusion.

• Rhinitis is the term for a cold.
• Sinusitis is the word for a sinus infection

A cold is a viral respiratory infection. More than 100 different viruses cause colds. Colds spread when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes droplets containing the virus into the air. Another way to spread the virus is by sneezing on or touching a surface like a counter or sink and leaving the virus behind.

Colds can lead to sinus infections when the sinuses - the air-filled spaces behind the nose - swell up. Air, mucus, and bacteria can get trapped in the swollen sinuses and cause an infection.

The main difference between a cold and a sinus infection is how long the symptoms last. Most people get over a cold in 5-10 days. Sinusitis can stick around for 4 weeks. In some people, sinus inflammation lasts for more than 3 months - this is called chronic sinusitis.

A stuffed and runny nose and feeling miserable; are these the symptoms of a cold? Or could it be a sinus infection?

The symptoms often overlap, so it can be hard to tell the difference. The conditions' names only add to the confusion.

• Rhinitis is the term for a cold.
• Sinusitis is the word for a sinus infection

A cold is a viral respiratory infection. More than 100 different viruses cause colds. Colds spread when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes droplets containing the virus into the air. Another way to spread the virus is by sneezing on or touching a surface like a counter or sink and leaving the virus behind.

Colds can lead to sinus infections when the sinuses - the air-filled spaces behind the nose - swell up. Air, mucus, and bacteria can get trapped in the swollen sinuses and cause an infection.

The main difference between a cold and a sinus infection is how long the symptoms last. Most people get over a cold in 5-10 days. Sinusitis can stick around for 4 weeks. In some people, sinus inflammation lasts for more than 3 months - this is called chronic sinusitis.

A stuffed and runny nose and feeling miserable; are these the symptoms of a cold? Or could it be a sinus infection?

The symptoms often overlap, so it can be hard to tell the difference. The conditions' names only add to the confusion.

• Rhinitis is the term for a cold.
• Sinusitis is the word for a sinus infection

A cold is a viral respiratory infection. More than 100 different viruses cause colds. Colds spread when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes droplets containing the virus into the air. Another way to spread the virus is by sneezing on or touching a surface like a counter or sink and leaving the virus behind.

Colds can lead to sinus infections when the sinuses - the air-filled spaces behind the nose - swell up. Air, mucus, and bacteria can get trapped in the swollen sinuses and cause an infection.

The main difference between a cold and a sinus infection is how long the symptoms last. Most people get over a cold in 5-10 days. Sinusitis can stick around for 4 weeks. In some people, sinus inflammation lasts for more than 3 months - this is called chronic sinusitis.