Instead, doctors recommend using a number of methods to accelerate the sinusitis recovery process, including drinking plenty of water; eating healthy, immune-boosting foods; keeping sinuses hydrated with tools like humidifiers, saline nasal sprays, and steam treatments; using warm compresses around the nose, cheeks, ...
If your sinus infection just won't go away or keeps coming back, it may be time to see an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. An ENT treats conditions of the ear, nose, throat, head, face, and neck. It may be time to see an ENT if: You've completed several courses of antibiotics without success.
An “acute” sinus infection lasts anywhere from ten days up to eight weeks. A “chronic” infection lasts even longer. It is ongoing — it may seem like it's improving, and then it comes right back as bad as it was at first. Chronic sinus infections may drag on for months at a time.
Prolonged sinus infections can cause respiratory problems. Trouble breathing may result in your body feeling fatigued as it's harder to get oxygen to your brain. Your doctor can drain your sinus passages, decreasing inflammation, and help you breathe easier.
If you have a lingering sinus infection after antibiotics, an ENT doctor often elects to be more aggressive in treatment than a primary care physician. They may prescribe longer courses of antibiotics, stronger medications, or recommend a procedure to open the sinuses.
If you are not responding to a course of antibiotics within 4-7 days, you may have a resistant strain of bacteria. Consult your physician for an examination and possible culture or DNA analysis of your sinuses.
Antibiotics Aren't Effective Against Viruses
There is a difference between conditions caused by a virus and bacteria, the main one being that antibiotics are only effective against bacteria.
The typical amoxicillin dosage for a sinus infection is 500 mg every 8 hours, or 875 mg every 12 hours, taken for 5 to 10 days. This may vary based on the severity of your infection. Body weight will determine the dosage for children. You can take amoxicillin with or without food.
Augmentin can treat the same bacteria as amoxicillin, but also is effective against certain harder-to-treat infections,3 including: Sinus infections. Ear infections. Bacterial infections associated with COPD.
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.
For adults, 5 to 7 days is enough
The guidelines recommend treating bacterial sinus infections with amoxicillin-clavulanate, instead of the drug currently used, amoxicillin, because the addition of clavulanate helps to thwart the development of antibiotic resistance.
Undoubtedly with a sinus infection, there is going to be some pressure and discomfort, but if the pain gets severe, it is time to see a doctor. A sinus infection becomes very serious if there is severe pain in the eyes, throat, ears, or head. The infection can easily spread to create an eye or ear infection.
This can lead to a brain abscess or meningitis, rare and life-threatening conditions. While emphasizing that these complications are unlikely, Sindwani explains, “In most cases, the bacterial infection goes away, especially if you don't have underlying medical problems.”
How well do antibiotics work for sinusitis? Antibiotics work in most cases of acute sinusitis that are caused by bacteria. Most people start feeling better 3 to 4 days after they start taking the medicine. Antibiotics won't work for infections caused by a virus.
When antibiotics are indicated for the treatment of acute bacterial sinusitis, the Infectious Diseases Society of America evidence-based clinical practice guidelines recommend 5 to 7 days of therapy for patients with a low risk of antibiotic resistance who have a favorable response to initial therapy.
Duration — Patients who are improving on initial antibiotic therapy should be treated for a course of five to seven days [5,6]. This shorter course is reasonable as the available evidence suggests that response rates are similar and associated with fewer adverse events than longer courses [5,6].
Schedule an appointment with your doctor if:
See a doctor immediately if you have the following signs or symptoms, which could indicate a serious infection: Fever. Swelling or redness around your eyes. Severe headache.
Chronic sinusitis can spread to the eyes, blood, and brain, and, in rare circumstances, cause death. For that reason, it's important to take instances of sinusitis that won't go away very seriously.
"Chronic sinusitis can be caused by an allergy, virus, fungus, or bacteria and can go on for months or even years," says Dr.
A crooked or deviated septum blocks the drainage of your sinuses. You have allergies that lead to chronic swelling of your nasal tissues. You have nasal polyps that block your passages. You have asthma, which studies have linked to recurring sinus infections.
Chronic sinusitis can spread to the eyes, blood, and brain, and, in rare circumstances, cause death. For that reason, it's important to take instances of sinusitis that won't go away very seriously.
If after 10 days, your symptoms have not improved, see your primary care doctor. You may have an acute sinus infection. If it lasts four weeks, you potentially have a sub-acute sinus infection that needs more aggressive treatment. If symptoms last over 12 weeks, you're likely dealing with a chronic infection.