Determining whether you have a sinus infection or COVID-19 can be challenging, as both conditions share several symptoms. However, there are key differences to be aware of.

Typically, the loss of sense of smell associated with a sinus infection is accompanied by more significant symptoms such as facial pain and pressure. In contrast, COVID-19 symptoms often include fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, and may also have gastrointestinal symptoms. Because these symptoms can overlap, it’s important to discuss your condition with a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis.

Viral infection can lead to sinusitis in susceptible patients. This group of patients will have sinusitis as a key feature of their smell loss but will report a sudden loss of smell as a result of an upper respiratory virus. In these cases, the virus interferes with the ability of the nose and/or sinuses to drain properly, leading to sinusitis.

Loss of smell can also be due to nasal or sinus inflammation, or other viral infections distinct from COVID-19. It can occur as a result of some neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or dementia, or vitamin deficiencies. Rarely, tumors can present with smell loss. These types of conditions can cause a progressive loss of smell too.

Anosmia from COVID-19 likely occurs from direct infection of the olfactory nerves by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Anosmia commonly occurs early during infection, often with no associated nasal congestion. While smell loss is very common in adults with COVID-19, it fortunately appears to occur less frequently in children.

Having inflammation in the nose from a cold, allergies, or an upper respiratory tract infection can cause swelling, which blocks smell particles from reaching the top of the nasal cavity where the smell or olfactory nerve is located. It is normal to have decreased or loss of smell during an active cold or sinus infection.

Bad breath, fever, lethargy, loss of smell or taste, ear pressure are some symptoms to be aware of. Sinus infection symptoms follow a different path than colds. Most cases begin as a common cold, and symptoms usually go away in 7 to 10 days.

The most common causes of prolonged smell loss occur as a result of COVID-19, an upper respiratory infection, head injury, chronic sinus disease, and aging. However, other conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and tumors can be associated with smell loss. In some cases, the loss of smell is complete (anosmia), while in others it may be partial.

Other symptoms of sinusitis include loss of smell or taste, cough, bad breath, fever, toothache, and fullness in the ears. Sinus blockage can have a variety of environmental, anatomical, and genetic causes, but the main culprit is swelling of the nasal passages produced by the common cold or allergies. More serious sinusitis can result from structural problems.

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