A typical acute sinus infection improves in 7 to 10 days and clears within about 4 weeks.
Most are viral and ride in on a cold, so they resolve without antibiotics. The formal clock: acute lasts up to 4 weeks, subacute 4 to 12 weeks, chronic more than 12 weeks - and chronic needs a workup for allergies, polyps, or anatomy problems. The get-seen patterns: no improvement at 10 days, better-then-worse, or fever beyond 3 to 4 days. Saline rinses, warm compresses, steam, and fluids help while you wait. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you tell a normal arc from one that needs a clinician.
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Common questions
How long does a sinus infection last?
A typical acute sinus infection starts improving within 7 to 10 days and clears within about 4 weeks. Most are viral - they ride in on a cold - which is why they usually resolve without antibiotics. The formal categories: acute sinusitis lasts up to 4 weeks, subacute runs 4 to 12 weeks, and chronic sinusitis lasts more than 12 weeks and can drag on for months. The patterns that should push you to a clinician: symptoms still going at 10 days with no improvement, symptoms that get better and then slam back worse, or fever lasting more than 3 to 4 days - those suggest a bacterial infection that may need antibiotics. Anything crossing the 12-week mark is chronic and deserves a real workup for allergies, nasal polyps, or anatomy problems. While you wait it out, saline rinses, warm compresses, steam, and fluids genuinely help. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you track which stage you are in.