--- title: "Treatment for Chronic Sinus Infection | Sutter Health" description: "For 15 years I've gotten sinus infections in spring and fall. Symptoms include sore throat, fever, nasal drainage, respiratory infection, and rash. I've been tested for allergies (negative). Do you have any idea what this is and how I can treat it?" url: "/ask-an-expert/answers/treatment-for-chronic-sinus-infection-1051061380" --- 1. Home / 2. Treatment for Chronic Sinus Infection # Treatment for Chronic Sinus Infection * * * Medically reviewed by - Ronald L. Brown, M.D. ## Question For 15 years I've gotten sinus infections in spring and fall. Symptoms include sore throat, fever, nasal drainage, respiratory infection, and rash. I've been tested for allergies (negative). Do you have any idea what this is and how I can treat it? ## Answer Your symptoms sound consistent with upper respiratory infection rather than allergy. The negative allergy test confirms this. These infections are treated according to symptoms. Medications can include Tylenol for sore throat and fever, and Sudafed as tolerated for nasal drainage or congestion. If the symptoms aren't getting better over 10 days, then you should be seen by your physician. There is no great treatment for chronic sinusitis other than nasal/sinus saline rinse and treating the symptoms as they appear. Ear, nose and throat physicians can sometimes help in more severe cases. ## Explore related topics Breathing and allergies ## Related questions View all questions - Health Q&A ### Allergy Treatment I've been plugged up for months with allergies. I've used decongestants, antihistamines, and sinus rinses but nothing seems to help. Any advice? - Health Q&A ### Plugged Ear Due to Allergies? I have spring allergies and this year I have a plugged left ear, which I’m attributing to this. I’ve been using the over-the-counter ear wax remedies which have been working a bit for a day or two, and then my ear becomes plugged again. What can I do? - Health Q&A ### Allergies Plus Shortness of Breath? I struggle with seasonal allergies and take Claritin, plus use a neti pot. This season, I have also had shortness of breath and light coughing, but no wheezing. It's hard to do my usual workouts. Is there some kind of inhaler I can use? - Health Q&A ### Allergy and Cold Symptoms: How Are They Different? My 6-year-old daughter has recently been sneezing, coughing and is tired. How can I tell if this is caused by allergies or if it's a common cold? - Health Q&A ### Are Allergies and Asthma Inherited? Are some allergies and asthma inherited? My sister and I seem to be allergic to the same foods and pollens. Also do children ever outgrow these conditions? View all questions ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/treatment-for-chronic-sinus-infection-1051061380#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Treatment for Chronic Sinus Infection"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/treatment-for-chronic-sinus-infection-1051061380#medicalwebpage","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/treatment-for-chronic-sinus-infection-1051061380","name":"Treatment for Chronic Sinus Infection","description":"Your symptoms sound consistent with upper respiratory infection rather than allergy.","inLanguage":"en-US","medicalAudience":{"@type":"MedicalAudience","audienceType":"Patient"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/treatment-for-chronic-sinus-infection-1051061380#breadcrumblist"},"mainEntity":{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/treatment-for-chronic-sinus-infection-1051061380#question","name":"Treatment for Chronic Sinus Infection","text":"For 15 years I've gotten sinus infections in spring and fall. Symptoms include sore throat, fever, nasal drainage, respiratory infection, and rash. I've been tested for allergies (negative). Do you have any idea what this is and how I can treat it?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/treatment-for-chronic-sinus-infection-1051061380#answer","text":"Your symptoms sound consistent with upper respiratory infection rather than allergy. The negative allergy test confirms this. These infections are treated according to symptoms. Medications can include Tylenol for sore throat and fever, and Sudafed as tolerated for nasal drainage or congestion. If the symptoms aren't getting better over 10 days, then you should be seen by your physician. There is no great treatment for chronic sinusitis other than nasal/sinus saline rinse and treating the symptoms as they appear. 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