Is a Sinus Infection Contagious?

If a family member suffers from sinus infection you may have the doubt whether it is alright to be around the person or to stay away from him/her for some time. Sinus infection is caused by many factors.

You must know the exact cause of the problem to take up an appropriate treatment plan. Only if you can identify the exact cause of the problem can you answer the question whether a sinus infection can be contagious or not.

Virus is the most common cause for a sinus infection. Sometimes even a simple cold can develop into a full-blown sinus infection. This can be the case when you ignore the cold and do not treat it on time. So, can a sinus infection become contagious when caused by viruses? Though the virus can be passed from one person to another the sinus infection itself may not be contagious.

So, you must take care to treat common colds on time, otherwise it can develop into a serious sinus infection. You can make use of medications such as antihistamines and decongestants.  You can also avoid contracting the virus by limiting contact with other people. You can cover your face while sneezing and take care by washing hands frequently.

Even when a sinus infection is triggered by bacteria and fungi it cannot become contagious. Most frequently fungi and bacteria also lead to sinus infection. Mucus gets trapped inside when the sinuses swell which makes it the perfect place for breeding of bacteria and fungi. Sinus infection triggered by fungi and bacteria cannot be treated using over-the-counter medications.

You can take medications such as anti-fungal medicines and antibiotics for curing such an infection.

Sinus infection can also be caused due to abnormal growths in the sinuses. Even then it is not contagious. Polyps, nasal tumors and other abnormal growths can also cause a sinus infection. This can interfere with normal drainage of mucus.

In case you happen to suffer from such conditions, it pays to take up suitable remedial measures that can alleviate the symptoms of sinusitis. Surgery might be a lasting solution for this problem which can be considered if all other solutions fail to give relief.