Sinusitis has a way of outstaying its welcome. What starts as a cold becomes a dull ache across your cheeks and forehead, a nose that will not clear, pressure behind your eyes and a tiredness that makes it hard to concentrate. For most people it passes within two to three weeks. For some it lingers for months, or keeps coming back.
At Wimbledon Medical Service, our private GP team offers same-day appointments for sinus pain, blocked sinuses and sinus infections, in person at our Wimbledon Village clinic or by video. We examine you properly, work out whether your sinusitis is viral, bacterial or part of a longer-term problem, and build a treatment plan that gets you breathing freely again.
Understanding Sinusitis
Your sinuses are air-filled spaces behind your cheekbones, forehead and nose. Sinusitis is inflammation of the lining of these spaces, usually after a cold, which stops them draining and causes pressure, pain and congestion. It is divided by how long it lasts:
Acute sinusitis: symptoms lasting less than four weeks, almost always following a cold or flu
Recurrent sinusitis: four or more acute episodes in a year
Chronic sinusitis: symptoms lasting 12 weeks or more, often linked to allergies, nasal polyps or a structural problem in the nose
Symptoms We Can Help With
Acute sinusitis symptoms
Pain, pressure or tenderness over your cheeks, forehead or around your eyes, a blocked or runny nose, thick green or yellow discharge, a reduced sense of smell, a high temperature, bad breath and a headache that feels worse when you bend forward.
Chronic sinusitis symptoms
Persistent nasal blockage, post-nasal drip, facial pressure that never quite goes, loss of smell, a lingering cough and fatigue. Symptoms are often milder than acute sinusitis but drag on for months and affect sleep, work and mood.
Common Causes and Risk Factors
Most acute sinusitis is viral and follows a cold; only a small proportion becomes a bacterial infection. Chronic sinusitis is more complex, and often has several contributing factors: hay fever and other allergies, nasal polyps, a deviated septum, asthma, smoking or exposure to smoke, and dental infections in the upper teeth, which sit directly beneath the cheek sinuses.
You are more likely to develop sinusitis if you have allergies or asthma, a weakened immune system, or structural narrowing in the nose. Frequent colds, air travel and swimming can all trigger episodes in people who are prone to it.
How We Diagnose Sinusitis
Sinusitis is usually diagnosed from your history and an examination. During your private GP consultation, your GP will ask about the pattern and duration of your symptoms, examine your nose, throat, ears and face, and check for tenderness over the sinuses. Following NICE guidance, we look for the signs that separate a lingering viral infection from a bacterial one, because that distinction decides whether antibiotics will help.
Where further investigation is useful, we can arrange:
Allergy assessment and blood tests: to identify allergic triggers behind recurrent or chronic sinusitis, with most results back within 24 to 48 hours
Imaging referral: a CT scan of the sinuses through a trusted local provider where chronic sinusitis is suspected
ENT referral: for nasal polyps, suspected structural problems, or sinusitis that has not responded to treatment, with a referral letter prepared promptly
Treatment Options at Wimbledon Medical Service
Your treatment is matched to the type of sinusitis you have:
Symptom relief for acute sinusitis: pain relief, saline rinses, decongestants used safely for a short period, steam and rest, with clear advice on what to expect and when to come back
Steroid nasal sprays: to reduce inflammation in symptoms that have lasted more than ten days, and as the mainstay of treatment for chronic sinusitis
Antibiotics where they are needed: for bacterial sinusitis with severe or worsening symptoms, prescribed responsibly and issued as a private prescription at your appointment
Allergy management: antihistamines, allergen avoidance advice and nasal treatments where allergies are driving the problem
A long-term plan for chronic sinusitis: regular review, treatment adjustments and ENT referral where surgery or specialist treatment may help
Fit notes and medical letters: including private fit notes if you are too unwell to work
Standard 20-minute consultations start from £110, with longer appointments available for chronic or complex problems. You can book an appointment online in minutes.
When to See a GP About Sinusitis
See a GP if your symptoms are severe, have lasted more than ten days without improving, got better and then worse again, or keep returning. See us if you have had sinus symptoms for three months or more, as chronic sinusitis responds best to a proper plan rather than repeated short courses of over-the-counter remedies.
Seek urgent medical help for swelling or redness around the eyes, changes in vision, a severe headache with a stiff neck, confusion, or a very high temperature that will not come down.
If you are unsure whether your symptoms need attention, contact our reception team and we will advise; same-day appointments are usually available.
Why Choose Wimbledon Medical Service?
We are a compassionate, not-for-profit private GP practice in Wimbledon Village, and we believe good care starts with time to listen. For sinusitis, that means:
Same-day appointments, in clinic at 39 Church Road or by video
Unhurried 20 to 60 minute consultations with an experienced GP, with time to unpick the causes of a recurring problem
Continuity of care: see the same GP at each visit, which matters for chronic sinusitis
On-site blood testing and fast imaging and ENT referrals
Responsible prescribing: antibiotics when they will help, effective alternatives when they will not
No membership fees or minimum commitment: use us alongside your NHS GP whenever you need us; our patient FAQs explain how it works
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have sinusitis or just a cold?
A cold usually improves within a week. Sinusitis tends to follow a cold and brings facial pain or pressure, thick nasal discharge, reduced sense of smell and a headache that worsens when you lean forward, often lasting ten days or more. A GP examination can confirm it.
Do I need antibiotics for sinusitis?
Usually not. Most sinusitis is viral and settles within two to three weeks with symptom relief. Antibiotics are reserved for bacterial sinusitis with severe or worsening symptoms, which your GP can identify through examination. A steroid nasal spray often helps more than antibiotics.
How long does sinusitis last?
Acute sinusitis usually clears within two to three weeks. If symptoms last longer than twelve weeks, it is classed as chronic sinusitis and needs a longer-term treatment plan, which a GP can put in place and review with you.
What is the best treatment for chronic sinusitis?
Daily steroid nasal sprays and saline rinses are the foundation, alongside treating any allergy that is driving the inflammation. If symptoms persist, a GP can arrange a CT scan and an ENT referral to assess nasal polyps or structural problems that may benefit from specialist treatment.
Can sinusitis cause toothache or earache?
Yes. The cheek sinuses sit above the upper back teeth, so sinus pressure can feel like toothache. Blocked sinuses can also affect the tubes that drain the ears, causing earache or muffled hearing. A GP can tell sinus pain apart from a dental or ear problem.
Can you assess sinusitis by video?
Yes. Your GP can review your symptoms and history, advise on treatment and arrange prescriptions where appropriate. We will ask you to come into our Wimbledon clinic if a physical examination is needed.
How much does an appointment cost?
Standard 20-minute consultations start from £110. Longer 30, 40 and 60 minute appointments are available for chronic sinusitis or multiple concerns. Blood tests, some prescriptions and referral letters are charged separately; see our services and fees for details.
Breathe Easily Again
Sinusitis that lasts for weeks, or keeps coming back, deserves more than another box of decongestants. Book a same-day appointment with a private GP at Wimbledon Medical Service, or call our reception team on 020 8153 4239.