Sinus symptoms
Congestion and facial pressure often accompany an infection or allergies. Most sinus infections are viral, and antibiotics are not routinely helpful.
Common symptoms
- Nasal congestion or stuffiness
- Facial pain or pressure (especially around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead)
- Headache
- Thick, discolored nasal discharge
- Post-nasal drip
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Sometimes, fever
A useful care conversation
Note how long symptoms have lasted, whether they improved and then worsened, and the treatments you have tried. A clinician can discuss symptom relief and assess whether the pattern needs an examination or treatment for bacterial sinusitis.
When to seek more care
- Get assessed for severe facial pain or headache, symptoms lasting more than ten days without improvement, or worsening after initial improvement.
- Vision changes need prompt in-person care.
General educational information, not a diagnosis or a complete symptom checker. The right care depends on your circumstances.
For an emergency, call 911. Do not wait for a Tap reply or send a photo first.
About this information
Adapted from Tap’s published care-topic library. Original publication: 2025-01-01. Prepared for this guide: 2026-09-07. Preparation is not a clinical-review certification.
The clinician decides whether advice, testing, an examination or a prescription is appropriate. A listed topic does not guarantee remote treatment or a refill. Tap does not prescribe controlled substances.