Antibiotics and Sinus Infections

Antibiotics are for bacterial infections, not viral infections. The only type of sore throat that needs antibiotics is strept throat. Viral throat infections will not get better with antibiotics, they may actually cause more problems. I have literally had patients argue with me demanding they get antibiotics for viral infections. Usually, they reference a neighbor who had the same thing, took an antibiotic and was better in a few days. I have had number patients get better in a few days- without antibiotics. One day, early on in my career, I had a patient come in and ask for antibiotics for his 4 hours of stuffy nose. I explained that if he did not improve in 7 to 10 days, follow up.

I explain to them that antibiotics are not necessary and that I would not even recommend my own mom take antibiotics if she were in their situation- that usually gets the point across.

Sinus infections are similar. Most sinus infections, especially if less than 10 days old, are almost always viral and should be watched closely. Antibiotics should only be taken if symptoms worsen after 10-14 days. The following study actually backs that up…

CHICAGO - Just in time for runny nose season, new research suggests routine sinus infections aren’t really helped by antibiotics and other medicine that’s often prescribed.

In the British study, people suffering from facial pain and a runny nose with greenish or yellowish mucous generally improved within about two weeks — whether they took the standard antibiotic amoxicillin, steroid nose spray or fake medicine. Read more about the study here…..