Antibiotics For Sinus Infections

When we fall ill with sinusitis there are certain types of medications which are available from the pharmacy which can be taken to relieve the symptoms and these are discussed in more detail in our other articles here. Most people are aware that antibiotics can also sometimes be necessary to help clear sinusitis infections. The purpose of this article is to help outline when antibiotics can be indicated and to discuss some other issues of antibibiotic use that need to be considered.

Most cases of sinusitis are short lasting and resolve within about 7 to 10 days with simple over the counter remedies and antibiotics are not usually necessary. In fact, as antibioitcs have some potential side effects and possible resistance issues then they are best avoided unless absolutely necessary in most milder infections.

In sinusitis a troublesome symptom that is commonly experienced is mucus nasal discharge. This is often clear to begin with, a sign that the lining of the sinuses is inflammed and producing excess mucus. At this stage there is no evidence of bacterial infection being present and as antibiotics work by stopping bacterial bugs from growing or killing them, then at this stage antibiotics would not be of benefit. As time goes on if the sinusitis is not resolving the nasal secretions become thicker and often discoloured rather than clear, usually a yellow or green colour and can be blood stained. This suggests that a secondary bacterial infection may be developing and at this stage antibioitcs should be considered.

Additional evidence of a bacterial infection developing in the sinuses is having high temperatures or fevers. With these fevers you can experience shivering or shaking episodes known as rigors and feel generally more unwell and possibly also have general aches and pains. These symptoms again would indicate that antibiotics may be required.

The other main factor that influences whether antibiotics should be used in sinus infections is the duration of the illness. Most of the evidence suggests that sinusitis should be left to resolve itself for for about 7-10 days and only after this time would most doctors consider using antibiotics. Although every case is assessed individually by the doctor and there can be exceptions to this, such as in more severe cases or based on previous experince in and individual case.

In most countries to obtain antibiotics you need to see a doctor for a prescription, although there are some countries where antibiotics can be purchased from a pharmacy. Taking antibiotics can be of benefit in clearing sinusitis but there are also some potential drawbacks to consider. Firstly, all antibiotics can have possible side effects and diarrhoea, vomiting or abdominal pain are particularlly common and can be experienced by up to 10-15% of people who take them. Secondly, there can be allergic reactions to some antibiotics which can range from in milder cases a skin rash through to breathing difficulties and collapse in severe or anaphylactic reactions. These are rare but can be very serious, so it is important to inform your doctor of any past expereince of reactions that you may have had. Thirdly, if antibiotics are used too often then the bugs that they are targetted at can develop resistance to them and the antibiotics then lose their effect.