Sinus Infection Fever: How to Break Rising Body Temp

A sinus infection can, but does not always, cause a fever along with other symptoms. Fevers are more likely with bacterial sinus infections than with viral ones.

This article will discuss how high a fever can be with a sinus infection, what else could be causing a fever, how to break a sinus infection fever, and what to do if the fever won't go down.

A fever is a body temperature that is greater than 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C). How high the fever goes can vary. While rare, a bacterial sinus infection in children can cause a sudden, high fever.

Fever can be a symptom of nearly any infection, including:

To determine if it is a sinus infection, it's important to look at symptoms in addition to fever. In adults, symptoms of an acute (lasting less than four weeks) sinus infection often come after a cold that does not improve (or gets worse) after seven to 10 days.

Symptoms of an acute sinus infection in adults may include:

Symptoms of a sinus infection in children may include:

The type of sinus infection also matters. Viral and bacterial sinus infections can have similar symptoms, but bacterial sinus infections are more likely to cause:

It is important to note that symptoms that indicate a possible infection, such as symptoms getting better then worse, do not necessarily mean you have a sinus infection. This can also mean the presence of another infection, such as an ear infection or pneumonia. If you think you have any type of infection, see your healthcare provider.

If the fever is mild and not causing problems, you don't necessarily need to break it. Drinking fluids and resting may be all the fever treatment you need.

Lowering a fever may be helpful if you or your child is uncomfortable, not sleeping well, vomiting, and/or dehydrated.

Medication is typically the most effective way to reduce a fever. Important things to note when taking fever-reducing medication, or giving it to a child, include:

Other ways to help manage a fever include:

Some ways to help manage symptoms of a sinus infection without taking medication include:

If the fever isn't going down, or there are other factors present, medical care may be needed.

Call 911 if the child or adult:

Seek immediate medical attention if there is:

See a healthcare provider within 24 hours if:

Contact the healthcare provider during office hours if there is:

Antibiotics are only used for bacterial infections and are not effective against viral or fungal infections.

If you have a bacterial sinus infection, you may or may not be prescribed antibiotics. Your healthcare provider may suggest that you wait to see if the infection clears on its own and may only prescribe antibiotics if the symptoms persist past seven to 10 days.

Antibiotics may be prescribed sooner with certain circumstances, such as:

A fever can accompany almost any infection, including a sinus infection. Additional symptoms of a sinus infection include nasal congestion and discharge, pressure and/or pain in the face, headache, cough, and bad breath.

A bacterial sinus infection is more likely than a viral one to cause symptoms such as fever, symptoms that last longer than 10 days, and symptoms that start to get better but then suddenly get worse.

Over-the-counter fever reducers are an effective way to reduce your temperature. Other ways to manage fever include wearing light layers, taking lukewarm baths or sponge baths, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking all of your antibiotics as directed if you are prescribed them.

Call 911 or seek emergency medical care if serious symptoms occur with your sinus infection, such as fever with a stiff neck, a persistent or very high fever, trouble breathing, vision problems, confusion or trouble thinking, redness or swelling around one or both eyes, or anything else that requires urgent care.

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American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Sinus infection.

AboutKidsHealth. Sinus infections.

Seattle Children’s Hospital. Sinus pain or congestion.

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Sinusitis.

By Heather JonesHeather M. Jones is a freelance writer with a strong focus on health, parenting, disability,and feminism.