Cold or sinus infection?

So, it was only a matter of time until one of my teenagers came down with a cold. 

Colds are miserable enough, but with colds can come sinus infections. How do you know if you have a sinus infection? Well, it may feel like a cold, but Webmd explains it as:

Some of the primary symptoms of acute sinusitis include:

• Facial pain/pressure
• Nasal stuffiness
• Nasal discharge
• Loss of smell
• Cough/congestion

Additional symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Bad breath
• Fatigue
• Dental pain

The Webmd page lists these symptoms for an acute infection (meaning it will only last for a short time.) It says if you have two or more of these symptoms, and also have a thick, yellow or green discharge - you may have a sinus infection. 

When that happens to us, we call asthma doc to see what he says. There are different ways to treat sinus infections  Some doctors will suggest you use a decongestant, steam inhalation, nasal sprays or antibiotics. Your doctor will decide what's best for you.

Some people swear by Netipots. If you have never used one, know that you have to follow the directions very carefully, especially making sure you have sterile water in your neti pot. (There have been some rare but creepy infections people got from using regular tap water.) 

Everyone has different symptoms, and may react differently to treatment plans, so ask your doctor what he wants you to do.

Until then, Teenager will be having LOTS of chicken soup and orange juice, and resting and watching some videos. 

After all, it's important to let your body heal. Hey, maybe Teenager will even let me hang out with her (as long as I keep my distance and try not to annoy her .....)