Sinusitis, a common ailment affecting many, can often be confused with COVID-19 due to overlapping symptoms. It’s essential to understand the unique characteristics of sinusitis to differentiate it from other conditions. Sinus infection symptoms typically include painful pressure, which varies depending on the affected sinus. For instance, frontal sinusitis causes pain in the forehead, maxillary sinusitis results in discomfort over the cheek, upper jaw, and teeth, while pain behind the eyes indicates ethmoid or sphenoid sinusitis. Sphenoid sinusitis often manifests as pain at the top of the head.

A key symptom of sinusitis is the loss of sense of smell, usually accompanied by facial pain or pressure. In contrast, COVID-19 symptoms include fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, and sometimes gastrointestinal issues. Due to the potential overlap of symptoms, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional for accurate diagnosis.

Sinus infection symptoms can follow a trajectory different from that of common colds. Typically, sinusitis begins as a cold, with symptoms resolving in 7 to 10 days. Early symptoms resemble those of a cold, including fatigue, cough, impaired sense of smell, fullness or pressure in the ears, or headache. To alleviate these symptoms, remedies such as nasal rinses, decongestants, and pain relievers can be effective.

In addition to sinusitis, other inflammatory conditions can cause chest pain, such as costochondritis—an inflammation in the chest wall between the ribs and the breastbone. This condition often results from trauma or overuse injuries and can mimic heart attack symptoms. Moreover, sinus blockage can stem from various causes, including environmental factors, anatomical issues, or genetics, with the common cold or allergies frequently causing nasal passage swelling.

Bacterial sinus infections may present specific symptoms like headache, fever, and pus in the nose. Conditions like pneumonia, often a cause of chest pain, require a chest x-ray for diagnosis. Pleurisy or pleural effusion, involving inflammation or fluid beneath a lung, can also contribute to chest discomfort.

For more detailed information on sinusitis, COVID-19 comparisons, and treatment options, visit the following sources: Harvard Health, Ohio State Health & Discovery, and Keck Medicine of USC.