Antibiotics are not needed for many sinus infections. Most sinus infections usually get better on their own without antibiotics. When antibiotics aren't needed, they won't help you, and their side effects could still cause harm. Side effects can range from mild reactions, like a rash, to more serious health problems.
You doctor may recommend antibiotics if: You have symptoms of a bacterial infection and you have not gotten better after 10 days, even with home treatment. Your symptoms are severe, or you have other problems, such as pus forming in your sinus cavities.
Even if the infection becomes bacterial, 70% of the time the infection will go away within two weeks without antibiotics.
Instead, your doctor looks largely at symptom duration to determine the source of your infection. A viral sinus infection will usually start to improve after five to seven days. A bacterial sinus infection will often persist for seven to 10 days or longer, and may actually worsen after seven days.
Untreated sinusitis allows bacteria and other harmful pathogens to enter the bloodstream and travel all throughout the body, leading to the following potentially life-threatening conditions. Meningitis develops when infection targets the brain or spinal fluid. It requires immediate medical attention.
Antibiotics and sinus infections
This may give you the idea that you need antibiotics, but most clear up without them. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses and aren't recommended within the first week of developing a cold. About 70% of sinus infections go away within two weeks without antibiotics.
Even though it takes pretty close contact to spread a sinus infection, staying home and getting rest can help you get back to your normal routine as soon as possible. Get better faster. Try using home remedies like over-the-counter medications or a neti pot to help speed up your recovery.
As discussed, if your symptoms are caused by a virus (like a cold or flu virus), you won't need antibiotics. But if you have a sore throat due to bacteria — for instance, strep throat or bacterial tonsillitis — you will need antibiotics.
Most sinus infections usually get better on their own without antibiotics. When antibiotics aren't needed, they won't help you, and their side effects could still cause harm. Side effects can range from mild reactions, like a rash, to more serious health problems.
Sometimes, you may need to get a CT scan to look for more serious inflammation deep in your sinuses. It uses X-rays to produce a cross-section view of a particular part of the body. Your doctor may also take a swab from inside your sinuses if they think you may have a fungal infection or bacterial infection.
A sinus infection caused by a viral infection lasts about seven to 10 days, meaning you'll be contagious with the virus for up to two weeks. If your symptoms last more than 10 days, or if they subside after a week then return again a few days later, you likely have a bacterial sinus infection that cannot be spread.
While sinus infections themselves are not contagious, they often occur as a result of a virus like the common cold or flu. You can pass the virus on to another person, and it's possible that they also develop a sinus infection, but they also might not.
Along the same lines as OTC options, antihistamine medications, such as Sudafed, Claritin, Zyrtec or Benadryl, can also offer sinus infection symptom relief. While these medications specifically target allergy symptoms, sinus infection symptoms can be similar, making antihistamines worth a try.
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication may help to relieve symptoms of a sinus infection. These medications may include: aspirin, only for people over the age of 18 years. acetaminophen, such as Tylenol.
As your body works hard to fight off the sinus infection, you'll feel more tired than usual. Fatigue can be also be caused by head pain, a lack of adequate sleep, and difficulty breathing due to sinusitis.
The Link Between Sinusitis and Fatigue
The fatigue from your sinus infection is caused by your body's continual efforts to fight off the germs causing the sinusitis. Most sinusitis is caused by viral germs, but some cases are caused by bacteria or fungi.
The bacteria confine themselves in stubborn “biofilms,” making it difficult for your immune system or antibiotics to find and attack them. An overlap of additional factors such as smoking, environmental pollutants, and deviated septum, further complicate the picture of chronic sinusitis.