How To Get Rid Of Sinus Drainage In Throat

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Summary

Sinusitis means your sinuses are inflamed. The cause can be an infection or another problem. Your sinuses are hollow air spaces within the bones surrounding the nose. They produce mucus, which drains into the nose. If your nose is swollen, this can block the sinuses and cause pain.

There are several types of sinusitis, including:

Acute, which lasts up to 4 weeks
Subacute, which lasts 4 to 12 weeks
Chronic, which lasts more than 12 weeks and can continue for months or even years
Recurrent, with several attacks within a year

Acute sinusitis often starts as a cold, which then turns into a bacterial infection. Allergies, nasal problems, and certain diseases can also cause acute and chronic sinusitis.

Symptoms of sinusitis can include fever, weakness, fatigue, cough, and congestion. There may also be mucus drainage in the back of the throat, called postnasal drip. Your health care professional diagnoses sinusitis based on your symptoms and an examination of your nose and face. You may also need imaging tests. Treatments include antibiotics, decongestants, and pain relievers. Using heat pads on the inflamed area, saline nasal sprays, and vaporizers can also help.

Computed Tomography (CT) -- Sinuses (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Panoramic Dental X-Ray (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Radiography of the Paranasal Sinuses (American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF - In English and Spanish

Decongestants: OTC Relief for Congestion (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
How to Use Nasal Sprays (With Images) (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists)
Is Rinsing Your Sinuses With Neti Pots Safe? (Food and Drug Administration)
Nasal Sprays: How to Use Them Correctly (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Nasal Wash Treatment (National Jewish Health) Also in Spanish
Saline Sinus Rinse Recipe (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) Also in Spanish
Sinus Infection (Sinusitis) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Sinus Rinsing and Neti Pots (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Colds, Allergies and Sinusitis - How to Tell the Difference (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) - PDF Also in Spanish
Marvels of Mucus and Phlegm: The Slime That Keeps You Healthy (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
Post-Nasal Drip (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
Sinus Headaches (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Sinus Infection and Toothache: Any Connection? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Acute Sinusitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Chronic Sinusitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Fungal Sinusitis (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)

FastStats: Chronic Sinusitis (National Center for Health Statistics)

ClinicalTrials.gov: Sinusitis (National Institutes of Health)

Sinuses / Sinusitis / Rhinosinusitis Defined (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)

Difference between Sinusitis and a Cold (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
Pediatric Sinusitis (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
Sinusitis (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
When Sinuses Attack! (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation)

Saline nasal washes (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Sinus CT scan (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Sinus MRI scan (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Sinus x-ray (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Sinusitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Sinusitis in adults - aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Stuffy or runny nose - adult (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Stuffy or runny nose - children (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish