The most common symptoms of a nasal infection include drainage, nasal congestion, headache, and fever. In addition, the patient might experience a bad taste in his mouth, and feel extreme pressure over the eyes and above the cheekbones. Nasal infections, also known as sinus infections, are commonly a result of a lingering cold. Sometimes when a cold begins to resolve, the individual will notice a worsening in congestion and a thickening of nasal secretions. When nasal secretions become dark and viscous, he may have a nasal infection.
Generally, in addition to nasal symptoms, the patient often feels profoundly ill and unable to fully carry-out his activities of daily living. The act of bending over or stooping to pick up an object becomes almost unbearable. Sometimes, when bending over, the patient with a sinus infection will experience excruciating pain to either the front or back of his head. This is usually caused by pressure and congestion in the frontal, nasal, and occiptal sinus cavities. When these symptoms of a nasal infection are present, antibiotic therapy is often recommended. Although the common cold is a viral infection and typically not responsive to antibiotics, sinus infections are bacterial and usually respond.
Other, more severe symptoms of a nasal infection can include extremely sensitive or painful ears, ruptured eardrum, and toothache. Commonly, when a sinus infection is present, it causes mouth tissues to swell, exerting pressure on the teeth and surrounding structures, causing a toothache. Many times, a person suffering from a sinus infection will go to the dentist, erroneously thinking that he has a cavity or tooth infection, when in actuality, these are symptoms of a nasal infection. When this is the case, dental x-rays will frequently yield negative results. Often, the dentist will still prescribe antibiotics, reasoning that the patient has an infected tooth, which will subsequently relieve nasal symptoms.
Typically, loss of taste or strange changes in taste are also symptoms of a nasal infection. The patient will frequently complain that he cannot taste his food, or that he has a metallic taste in his mouth. After the infection is resolved, normal taste functions will generally resume. Coughing and sore throat are also symptoms of a nasal infection, especially as the sinuses begin to drain. As the irritating mucous drips down the back of the throat, patients often complain of coughing and irritation of the throat.
