Sinus infection treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

In most cases, doctors can come to a diagnosis for your sinus infection online by asking about your symptoms.

If the doctor suspects you have a bacterial infection, they may prescribe antibiotics to help you treat that as well.

Doctors can also write sick notes for the sinus infection in the case you need to be excused from work, school, or other situations.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or we’ll deliver it right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

Sinuses are hollow cavities surrounding the nasal airways that serve many functions, including controlling your voice and humidifying the air you breathe. A sinus infection is when one of these hollow cavities gets inflamed because of a bacteria or virus, and/or other environmental irritations like pollen and smoke.

Many people will have acute sinus infections throughout their life, but it is also possible to have chronic sinus infections. A chronic sinus infection can last 12 weeks or longer, and can significantly affect quality of life.

Symptoms of a sinus infection include:

• Puffiness in the face
• Toothaches
• Congestion
• Runny nose
• Facial pressure
• Headaches
• General fatigue
• Bad breath

To prevent getting a sinus infection:

• Avoid environments that may irritate your sinuses like construction sites, farms, smoking areas, etc.
• Stop smoking
• Avoid things that you are allergic to and cause irritation in your sinuses
• Wash your hands frequently to reduce the chance of a virus or bacteria getting inside your eyes, mouth, and nose

Antibiotics can help depending on your situation, and if your infection is bacterial. If there is no antibiotic sinus infection treatment appropriate for you, you can try relieving your discomfort by:

• Staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids
• Ensuring you get enough rest
• Taking pain relievers for fever, sore throat, and headache
• Using decongestants or nasal sprays to relieve congestion

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $85/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: Access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX cards, as well as Google and Apple Pay.

At Maple, we proudly prioritize privacy as a cornerstone of our virtual care services. We strictly adhere to privacy and healthcare legislation in Canada, such as PIPEDA and PHIPA regulations, to ensure patients' personal and health information remains completely private and safeguarded.

Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.