Sinusitis and pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, are common conditions that can cause significant discomfort. Understanding their symptoms, treatments, and preventive measures is crucial for effective management.

Sinus infection symptoms include painful pressure, which is the main symptom. This pressure varies depending on the affected sinus: the forehead for frontal sinusitis, over the cheek or in the upper jaw and teeth for maxillary sinusitis, behind the eyes for ethmoid or sphenoid sinusitis, or at the top of the head for sphenoid sinusitis. Accompanying symptoms can include bad breath, fever, lethargy, loss of smell or taste, and ear pressure.

Viral conjunctivitis, the most common type of pink eye, is triggered by the same viruses causing the common cold and often comes with symptoms like a runny nose and cough. Bacterial conjunctivitis, marked by a thick discharge, responds to antibiotic eye drops or ointment. Allergic pink eye, which is not contagious, can cause symptoms like sore, red, and sticky eyes but is triggered by allergies rather than infections.

Preventive measures for these conditions include frequent hand washing with soap and warm water, especially after cleaning the eyes or handling infected items. It’s also important to discard used cotton balls, wash used washcloths, and bed linens with hot water and detergent daily, and carefully clean eyeglasses.

For more in-depth information, visit Harvard Health’s Sinusitis page, Harvard Health’s Pink Eye page, and Utah Health’s Pink Eye Prevention page for more detailed insights.

Note: It’s important to consult a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Overlapping symptoms with COVID-19 and other viral infections make testing and professional medical advice crucial.