The main connection between sinus infection and bronchitis is that one can lead to the other. To be more specific, a sinus infection has the potential to cause bronchitis. Another way sinus infection and bronchitis can be connected is that they often occur simultaneously. This usually happens because sinus infections and bronchitis have some of the same potential causes, so when a person develops one, they have a higher chance of developing the other. Treatments for sinus infection and bronchitis are also often very similar.
Sinus infections often develop due to different types of allergies. This is also very common with bronchitis. Many allergies can cause the body to produce excess mucus, and this mucus can collect in certain areas of the body. When this occurs in the lungs or sinuses, bacterial infections can develop, eventually causing the sinus infection and bronchitis at the same time.
The other connection between bronchitis and sinus infection comes from a sinus infection symptom called postnasal drip. This causes mucus to run down the back of the throat constantly. Much of this mucus can make its way into a person's lungs, and mucus from a sinus infection is usually full of bacteria. When it reaches the lungs, it can often spread the infection to that area, leading to bronchitis.
When people get a sinus infection or a case of bronchitis, doctors usually use various antibiotics to treat them. These medications are considered effective in helping the immune system fight bacteria, which are responsible for most cases of bronchitis, as well as most sinus infections. Some sinus infections are caused by fungal contamination, and these require specialized medications.
Sinus infection symptoms include facial pain, headaches around the eyes, and pain in the area of the teeth. Symptoms of bronchitis include cough and wheezing along with fever. Both diseases are mainly caused by inflammation.
In the case of sinus infection, the inflammation is occurring in the lining of a person's sinuses, and in the case of bronchitis, the inflammation is occurring within the lungs, in the area of a person's bronchi. Both diseases are usually easy to treat, but bronchitis can be potentially dangerous for young children and the elderly. Anyone who already has some kind of severe lung difficulty is also at risk for serious illness.