Sinusitis (sinus infection) while visiting Sweden
Medically reviewed by Dr Toha Soodhun, specialist in family medicine · 13 November 2026
Sinusitis usually follows a cold: pain in the face, often on one side, a blocked nose and thick mucus. Most people get better on their own. See a doctor if you are not improving after about ten days, if the pain is severe, or if you have high fever or swelling in the face. A video doctor can assess you and prescribe treatment when it is needed.
Typical symptoms
- Pain or pressure in the face, often worse on one side or when you bend forward
- Blocked nose and mucus that runs down the throat
- Toothache in the upper jaw
- Reduced sense of smell, sometimes fever and tiredness
Self-care
- Rinse the nose with saline (salt water) spray or drops from the pharmacy.
- Decongestant nasal spray can ease a blocked nose — use it for no more than ten days.
- Sleep with an extra pillow, keep moving, and use paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain.
When antibiotics help
Antibiotics don't help a cold. Adults who have had symptoms for more than ten days with coloured mucus and severe pain in the cheeks or teeth may benefit, and penicillin is then usually the first choice. The doctor makes that assessment with you.
See a doctor in person if…
- No improvement after about ten days
- Symptoms that keep coming back, or have lasted three to four weeks or more
Our clinics in Gothenburg, Stockholm and Malmö can usually see you the same day (3,200 SEK, or +700 SEK after a video consultation). If you cannot come in, we can visit you at your hotel or home in central Gothenburg, Stockholm or Malmö — see prices.
Seek emergency care or call 112 if…
- High fever with severe pain over the forehead, or swelling and redness around one eye
- Severe headache with a stiff neck, or you feel very ill — seek emergency care
Questions
Is sinusitis contagious?
Sinusitis itself is not, but the cold viruses that cause it spread easily.
See a licensed Swedish doctor by video
2,500 SEK · No personnummer or BankID · Insurance documents included
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