The symptoms of recurrent acute and chronic sinusitis tend to be vague and generalized, last longer than eight weeks, and occur throughout the year, even during nonallergy seasons. Nasal congestion and obstruction are common. Sufferers do not usually experience facial pain unless the infection is in the frontal sinuses, which usually results in a dull, constant ache. Facial tenderness or pressure, however, may be present. Site-Specific Symptoms Specific symptoms depend on the location of the infection.
Frontal sinusitis causes pain across the lower forehead.
The pain in maxillary sinusitis occurs over the cheeks and may travel to the teeth, and the hard palate in the mouth sometimes becomes swollen. Ethmoid sinusitis causes pain behind the eyes and sometimes redness and tenderness in the area across the top of the nose. Rare complications of sinusitis can produce additional symptoms, which may be severe or even life threatening. Nasal congestion Nasal discharge or postnasal drip Pain or pressure around the inner corner of the eye or down one side of the nose Headache in the temple or surrounding the eye. D. Kennedy, ed.