While you're uncomfortable when it strikes, sinusitis is generally harmless. Severe cases may require an antibiotic, but over-the-counter remedies may relieve most of the symptoms.

What's the difference between sinusitis and the effects of a bad cold? It is a matter of degrees. "Sinusitis is a clinical diagnosis," says Britt Marcussen, MD UI Family Care, North Liberty physician. "You can probably find as many approaches to this conclusion as there are doctors. A headache and colored nasal drainage does not mean bacterial sinusitis. It may simply be a bad cold, which is viral."

The most reliable clinical indicators of sinusitis are:

• Unilateral facial pain, usually below the eye
• Purulent nasal drainage
• Tooth pain
• Fever
• Headache

Viral upper respiratory infections typically last from seven to 10 days. If you have been sick longer than that, contact your doctor.

Now what?

Prevention didn't work and you've got sinusitis. Here are some self-care measures to try.

• Take hot baths and showers--the steam soothes your sinuses. Don't inhale steam from a kettle, you may get scalded.
• Use a vaporizer at night to keep your nasal passages from drying out.
• Control your allergies. Use air-filtering vacuum cleaners and HEPA filters.
• Drink more fluids.
• Acetaminophen/Tylenol or ibuprofen/Advil/Motrin may help alleviate the pain caused by the pressure.
• Saline sprays or washes may help loosen and clear secretions.
• Antihistamines/Benadryl should be avoided because they make the situation worse by drying the nasal passages and turning nasal secretions to glue, making sinusitis a more likely complication of a cold.