Sinusitis and Loss of Senses

A sinus infection occurs when the mucous membranes lining your nose, throat, or ears become inflamed due to a bacterial or viral infection. If the infection is viral, you will likely experience a loss of your sense of smell and taste.

Though the reasons can vary, the main reasons that people lose these senses when they come down with a sinus infection are:

∙ Injury of the specialized nerve tissue at the top of the nose

∙ Nerve damage in the higher smell pathways in the brain

∙ The fallout from a previous viral upper respiratory infection

But is it Sinus Infection or COVID?

Overlapping symptoms can make it very difficult to determine whether one has a sinus infection or a COVID-19 infection, or even pneumonia symptoms or other ENT conditions.

Common symptoms of each include:

Sinus Infection

∙ Runny nose or cold symptoms that last longer than seven to 10 days

∙ Complaints of drip in the throat from the nose

∙ Headaches

∙ Facial pain or pressure

∙ Bad breath

∙ Cough

∙ Fever

∙ Sore throat

∙ Swelling around the eyes, worse in the morning

COVID Infection

∙ Body aches

∙ Congestion or runny nose

∙ Cough

∙ Fatigue

∙ Fever or chills

∙ Headache

∙ Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

∙ New loss of taste or smell

∙ Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

∙ Sore throat

For more information, including topics such as variants and travel advisories, please visit Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | CDC.

Our Washington, DC ENT Mission

Capitol Breathe Free understands that you may have many questions when you start showing sinus symptoms. Whether it's something manageable or more serious, we intend to make your experience as comfortable and pleasant as possible while ensuring privacy, professionalism, and accessibility.

Schedule an appointment and stop your suffering in its tracks.