Because your nose can get stuffy when you have a condition like the common cold, you may confuse simple nasal congestion with sinusitis. A cold, however, usually lasts about 7 to 14 days and goes away without treatment. Sinusitis often lasts longer and typically causes more symptoms than a cold.

Your doctor can usually diagnose acute sinusitis by noting your symptoms and doing a physical examination, which includes examining your nasal tissues. If your symptoms are vague or persist, your doctor may order a CT scan, a form of X-ray, to confirm that you have sinusitis. Your doctor may also use laboratory tests to help confirm a diagnosis. After diagnosing sinusitis and identifying a possible cause, your doctor can suggest various treatments.

If you have sinusitis, your doctor may recommend antibiotics to control a bacterial infection, pain relievers to reduce any pain, and decongestants to reduce congestion.  Even if you have sinusitis, your doctor may choose not to use an antibiotic because many cases of sinusitis will end on their own. But if you do not feel better after a few days you should contact your doctor again.  If you have an allergic disease along with sinusitis, you may also need medicine to control allergies.