Sinus infection treatment in Patong

Sinus problems produce a very specific misery: pressure behind the face, a blocked nose that will not clear, pain that worsens when you lean forward, and a headache that paracetamol barely touches. Sinus infection treatment in Patong is available at our clinic 24 hours a day, and most cases settle well once treated properly.

What it feels like

Pain or pressure across the cheeks, forehead or between the eyes. A blocked nose, often with thick yellow or green discharge. Reduced sense of smell. Pain in the upper teeth, because the roots sit close to the sinuses. Mucus running down the back of the throat, which causes a persistent cough that is worse at night.

Bending forward typically makes the pressure noticeably worse, and that detail helps distinguish sinus pain from other headaches.

Why Patong triggers it

Air conditioning is a repeat offender: cold dry air all night dries and irritates the nasal lining. Flying does the same, and the pressure changes on descent can leave sinuses blocked for days after arrival.

Add pool chlorine, seawater forced into the sinuses while snorkelling or diving, dust in the dry season, damp and mould in older rooms during the rains, and smoke in bars. Allergies to any of these produce swelling that blocks the sinus openings, and blocked sinuses become infected sinuses.

Viral, bacterial, or allergy

Most sinus infections start viral, following a cold, and improve within seven to ten days without antibiotics. A minority become bacterial, and the pattern gives it away: symptoms lasting more than ten days without improvement, or symptoms that improved and then clearly worsened again, often with fever and one-sided facial pain.

Allergic sinusitis behaves differently again, with itching, sneezing and clear discharge rather than fever, and it needs antihistamines and steroid nasal spray rather than antibiotics.

The doctor examines you and takes a proper history to separate these, because prescribing antibiotics for all three is both ineffective and unnecessary.

Treatment

The aim is to open the sinuses and let them drain. Steroid nasal sprays reduce the swelling that blocks drainage, and they are the most useful single treatment for most people. Saline rinses clear mucus and irritants, and are worth doing properly rather than half-heartedly.

Short-term decongestants help, but only for a few days, since using them longer causes rebound congestion that leaves you worse. Pain relief matters. Where the picture is genuinely bacterial, antibiotics are prescribed.

Diving and flying

Important in Phuket. Do not dive with blocked sinuses. You cannot equalise properly and the pressure change can cause a sinus squeeze, which is painful and can cause bleeding. Any dive school worth using will ask, and we will tell you honestly when you are not fit to dive.

Flying with badly blocked sinuses is also painful and occasionally damaging. If you have a flight, come in and let us treat the congestion first, and we can issue a fit to fly certificate where appropriate.

When to come in urgently

Swelling or redness around the eye, changes in vision, double vision, a severe headache with a stiff neck, confusion, or a high fever with severe facial pain all need immediate assessment. These are rare but serious.

Common questions about sinus infections in Patong

Do I need antibiotics?

Usually not. Most cases are viral or allergic and respond better to nasal steroids and rinses.

How long does it last?

Viral sinusitis improves within seven to ten days. Bacterial cases improve a few days after antibiotics start.

How much does treatment cost in Patong?

Consultation plus medication. Message us and we will quote.

Can I dive with a sinus infection?

No. Wait until it clears and you can equalise comfortably.

Can a doctor come to my hotel?

Yes, we assess and treat sinus problems during hotel visits.