How can I tell if sinusitis is bacterial vs viral without antibiotics?

[Michael.W]

I’m trying to understand the difference between a bacterial sinus infection and a viral one, because my doctor said my symptoms could go either way and didn’t prescribe antibiotics. How did you know which one you had when your sinus pressure and colored drainage lasted over a week?

[Aria36]

Mine hung around for about a week and a half. The pressure stuck around, the colored drainage came and went, and I waited with extra fluids and humid air. By day 12 it finally started easing up and felt mostly better after a couple more days.

[StevenP]

When it dragged toward two weeks, I worried it was bacterial, but there was no high fever and the meds weren’t prescribed. It just slowly faded without antibiotics, which made me think viral after all, even if it was stubborn.

[Kyle.L]

I tried saline rinses and a few over the counter decongestants, and I kept track of days for myself. There was a moment I thought 'this has to be bacterial' because of the color, but the clock won and it improved without a clear turning point.

[Amelia.W]

Is it possible the real issue is allergies or drainage problems rather than infection at all?